“They told me they weren’t going to stop”: ATH Gerritt Kemp weighs in on recruitment process after flipping, committing to NC State

By Aman Sharma

Modified Aug 21, 2024 06:29 GMT

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Gerritt Kemp, a highly regarded three-star athlete from Hebron Christian Academy in Georgia, switched his commitment from Duke to North Carolina State on Monday. Initially drawn to Duke after an official visit to Durham, Kemp had chosen the Blue Devils over other notable programs like Michigan State and Ole Miss.

However, NC State remained a strong contender, with Kemp visiting Raleigh twice during his recruitment.

Gerritt Kemp revealed that NC State had been among his earliest offers and that their persistence played a crucial role in his decision.

“NC State was one of my first offers, and I liked them a lot, then when I committed to Duke, they never stopped recruiting me,” Kemp shared with On3. “When I called coach Dave Doeren about my commitment to Duke, he told me they weren’t going to stop recruiting me, and they didn’t.

Ultimately, Gerritt Kemp felt more connected to NC State's consistent outreach and decided to flip his commitment.

“They stayed consistent, they reached out to me a lot and that made a big difference,” Kemp said, They reached out more to me than Duke did at times and I changed my decision to NC State.”

In addition to changing his college choice, Gerritt Kemp also switched his position on the field. Originally committed to Duke as a wide receiver, Kemp has now opted to play cornerback for NC State.

“Getting back on the defensive side of the ball excites me. It just felt right and where I belong,” Kemp explained. NC State is a great school in a great place. The coaches think I can thrive there on defense and that I can fit into their defense."

Gerritt Kemp's strong bond with NC State coaches leads to flip from Duke

Gerritt Kemp credits the Wolfpack’s relentless pursuit as a key factor. Despite initially committing to the Blue Devils in June, Kemp never lost touch with NC State's coaching staff, which made a lasting impact on his decision.

“When I first committed to Duke, I had a conversation with Coach [Dave] Doeren and Coach [Brian] Mitchell,” Kemp 247 sports. “They told me I was a perfect fit for their program and assured me they weren’t going to stop recruiting me.”

The moment Kemp made his final decision to join NC State, he contacted both coaches to share the news.

“They were genuinely excited, and seeing their reaction was amazing,” Kemp said.

Coach Mitchell, Kemp’s position coach and lead recruiter, emphasized how honored he felt to guide Kemp through his collegiate journey.

“He said it was an honor to coach me, and that my parents were trusting him to mentor me and help me reach the next level,” Kemp added.

As a junior last season, Kemp caught 16 passes for 514 yards with seven touchdowns on offense. Defensively, he registered 36 tackles, including one for loss, broke up six passes, got three interceptions and recovered two fumbles.