Sporting Kansas City Academy products Jon Kempin and Erik Palmer-Brown were named to the 20-player roster on Wednesday for the 2014 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game. The inaugural event will feature the League's top Homegrown players against the Portland Timbers U-23s on Aug. 4 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon as part of the festivities leading up to the 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game.
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Kempin is currently on loan with USL PRO affiliate OKC Energy FC for their inaugural season and has five shutouts and 37 saves with a 1.38 goals against average in 13 games played. The 21-year-old goalkeeper was Sporting Kansas City's first Homegrown player upon signing in 2010 at age 17 and is now in his fifth professional season. Kempin made his competitive debut for Sporting KC during the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and made 34 saves in nine games while on loan with USL PRO champions Orlando City SC in 2013.
A Leawood, Kansas native, Kempin was a member of the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Residency Program at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida and has extensive experience for the United States at the Youth National Team level. He most recently joined the United States Under-21 Men's National Team in April and has also trained with the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team.
"It's a huge honor to be named to this roster and a huge honor to represent your hometown team," Kempin said. "I've been blessed with that opportunity as a Homegrown player and I look forward to continuing to represent Kansas City for many years to come."
Palmer-Brown became the youngest signing in club history at age 16 in August 2013 and is the youngest active player in Major League Soccer. The Lee's Summit, Missouri native has logged five appearances for Sporting Kansas City in all competition in 2014 and made his professional debut in May, becoming the youngest player in MLS history to start a regular season match as a defender.
Also a product of the U.S. Soccer Residency Program, Palmer-Brown represented the United States at the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-18 levels in 2013 en route to being named one of five finalists for U.S. Soccer's Young Male Athlete of the Year. He most recently was a member of the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team that finished runners-up at the 2014 Dallas Cup in April.
"It's a privilege to play in the inaugural Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game," Palmer-Brown said. "There are many great Homegrown players in Major League Soccer and I look forward to playing alongside them in Portland."
The 2014 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game will kick off at 9 p.m. CT on August 4 and will be streamed live on WatchESPN and MLSsoccer.com. MLS Director of Player Programs Alfonso Mondelo will coach the Homegrown team.
Goalkeepers: Jon Kempin (Sporting KC), Matt Lampson (Columbus Crew)
Defenders: Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Karl Ouimette (Montreal Impact), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting KC), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
Midfielders: Steven Evans (Portland Timbers), Wandrille Lefevre (Montreal Impact), Chris Ritter (Chicago Fire), Harry Shipp (Chicago Fire), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew)
Forwards: Caleb Calvert (Chivas USA), Bradford Jamieson (LA Galaxy), Sean Okoli (Seattle Sounders FC), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
*Should any of these players be selected to the game day roster for the 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star game, then that player would not participate in the Homegrown game.
