AU HOOPS: Son of NBA star picks Tigers

Auburn reined in a major signing day steal Wednesday, adding a familiar name with a big basketball pedigree.

Shawn Kemp Jr., the oldest son of former NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp, chose the Tigers over Georgia, giving Jeff Lebo a raw shot-blocker with a strong inside presence for the future.

The Tigers added four other players, two from junior colleges and two from high schools, to round out Lebo’s sixth recruiting class.
Kemp Jr. committed to Alabama last year, but failed to qualify. He’s currently enrolled at Hargrave Academy in Virginia. A Canton, Ga., native, Kemp, at 6-foot-9, 235 pounds, averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and compiled 78 blocks as a senior.

Kemp is considered the nation’s 105th best prospect and a four-star by Rivals.com.

His father, nicknamed the “Reign Man,” averaged nearly a double-double per game during the prime of his career, which included stops in Seattle, Cleveland and Portland and six All-Star game appearances.

The other four signees were Jale Steele (Knoxville, Tenn.) guard Anthony Salter (Iowa Western Community College), forward Adrian Forbes (Trinity Valley Community College in Texas) and forward Heath Houston (Powder Springs, Ga.).

Steele is considered a three-star by Rivals while the rest are unrated.

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