Hoops star gives back despite major loss
BOLIVAR, Tenn. –Bolivar native Willie Kemp’s face shows no sign of pain, but inside he mourns. Just three days ago, his mother, Maxine, passed away. “For me not to come here and run this camp, I think it wouldn’t be right by me. She would want me to come here and run the camp and do something for the kids,” said Kemp. The third annual Willie Kemp and Coach B basketball camp began Tuesday. Kemp’s close friend offered to lead the camp instead, but the former Memphis Tiger wouldn’t let the kids down. “His mother would want this camp to go on. She was on of our biggest motivators to do this for the kids,” said Demitrice Beauregard (Coach B). Kemp says his biggest supporter was always his mother and she stressed that he give back. “Growing up I didn’t have a camp to go to. This is the first basketball camp that’s going on here,” explained Kemp. Kemp vividly remembers his mother being at every game from his youth to playing at Memphis. He believes she’s still watching. “I know she’s smiling down on me right now and she’s happy. She’s got one of the best seats in the house.” Kemp’s camp at Bolivar Middle School ends on June 20 . 1st-5th graders camp times are 8 a.m. -12 p.m. 6th-11th graders camp times are 1-5 p.m.
