“When you have a dog like (Franklin), it forces you to be friendlier and talk to people and really kind of open up. That’s really been good for me.” – Harper Kamp Continued from page 10
season, he believes that some of the younger players look at him as a grandpa of sorts. Outside of basketball and academics, Kamp spends a lot of time thinking about and communicating with his family. The eldest of four, he has striven to be as positive an influence on his siblings as possible. Kamp truly cherishes the people around him, and he understands the worth of a fellow human, values his parents instilled in him while growing up. “We always taught our kids to understand that others are important and to treat them as such,” said Kamp’s father, Lane. “We wanted Harper to recognize the worthiness of being fair and equal to all people and just to love mankind with integrity and honesty.” The Kamps hoped that their children would grow up and choose to study an issue or topic before jumping to a conclusion. It appears with Harper that they’ve succeeded. Kamp listed his two most important attributes in a best friend as loyalty and being nonjudgmental. “I put so much pressure on myself,” Kamp said. “It’s nice to have friends who really don’t care how good you are at basketball or whether or not you’re getting good grades.” Kamp understands that no matter how good a friend he is, his status as a student-athlete puts him prime position to be judged constantly. “Franklin is always there for me,” Kamp said. “He doesn’t care how well I’m playing. When I get home, he’s just there for me.” While Franklin has become quite a popular figure around Haas Pavilion, Kamp hasn’t allowed that to be something he hides behind. Self-described as shy and reserved, Kamp now maintains that Franklin has been able to bring him out of his shell. “When you have a dog like him,” he said. “it forces you to be friendlier and talk to people and really kind of open up. That’s really been good for me.” Being more open has also helped Kamp on the court. While not listed as a stat in the box score, Kamp’s poise has increased markedly on the court, something his coaches have certainly noticed. “Harper is such a confident leader,” said fourth-year head coach
Harper Kamp with his dog Franklin
Mike Montgomery. “He just knows where to be and what needs to be done, and goes and does it. I think his teammates appreciate that about him.” Kamp’s example has been one to follow for his younger teammates. A true workman, he set new career numbers in all categories last season, including netting 33 points against Arizona and reaching double digits in rebounds in several games. “When you’re able to be more open with people, you learn to be confident in who you are,” Kamp said. “You don’t have to put on a show, and you don’t have to act like someone you’re not. You can just be you, and people will love that. That’s one thing that I’ve learned over the last few years. I can play my hardest and just play how I play and not worry about having to do too many things, trying to be a player that I’m not or make plays that I can’t make.” While Kamp has aspirations to continue playing basketball beyond his collegiate career, he can already see coaching in his future. His appreciation for the game and its intricacy, as well as the values of playing as a team, has been cultivated by his many coaches over the years. He hopes to be able to pass on what he’s learned from to others. “I just love the game – the beauty of it and the flow of the bodies during the game,” Kamp said. “It’s like art to me. Coach Montgomery’s passion for the game has really taken my appreciation for it to another level, and I can see myself wanting to teach that to others.” A chess champion as a youth, Kamp credits some of his understanding of the movement in basketball to his background in the board game. His brain has been programmed to look several steps ahead as the game unfolds. Gifted with uncanny court vision and a superlative basketball IQ, Kamp’s innate leadership abilities and intense focus have fostered a particularly special package. The Bears have benefited from his presence, but with Kamp seeing those few steps ahead, he’ll one day be imparting his own wisdom upon others. That’s not something found every day by walking through the halls of Haas Pavilion. Kamp has certainly been a rare breed, indeed. winter 2011-12
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