Kansas City Wizards youngster Kempin named state player of the year

U-16 goalkeeper Jonathan Kempin has been honored as the Gatorade Kansas State Player of the Year.

He now joins the pool of players eligible for National Player of the Year, the same award won in the past by Tony Meola, Claudio Reyna, and Landon Donovan.

In addition to manning the nets for the KCW Juniors’ U-16 team, Kempin also plays with Blue Valley North High School, whom he led to the Kansas Class 6A Northeast Regional 3 championship match as a junior this past season. Kempin spent his sophomore year at the USSF Development Academy program in Bradenton, Florida, and is part of the United States U-18 National Team.

This is the 25th year ESPN Rise and Gatorade have given out this award. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field, distinguishes Kempin as Kansas' best high school boys soccer player.