Shaedon Sharpe (Twitter Photo)
Now that guard Shaedon Sharpe has opened the door to playing this season after he enrolls at Kentucky in January, one has to wonder what the impact will be if he plays.
He was the top-rated recruit in the 2022 class and is now No. 3 in the 2021 class after reclassifying. He’s a rare talent and a special 6-5 guard with unique skills. He’s also played against elite competition.
The other side is that UK’s current players have been together since June and will have played a lot of games before he arrives. If Sharpe plays, it also means another player — or players — will lose playing time.
“It’s tough to come in at midseason no matter who you are,” Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook editor Chris Dortch said on WPBK-FM Thursday.
Dortch did remember two years ago at Tennessee when the Vols brought in a point guard at midseason and he started immediately.
“But it takes a while to come in midstream no matter how good you are,” Dortch said. “If he is a team guy and teammates like him, he could help. What I don’t know is if they will need Sharpe.”
Good question. Kentucky has guard depth with Sahvir Wheeler, TyTy Washington, Kellan Grady, Davion Mintz, and Dontaie Allen.
Dortch suggested that Calipari might let his players have a role in the decision about Sharpe’s playing status.
“Maybe he will talk to his veteran players about what would happen if we do this,” Dortch said. “In my experience, I have not seen many instances of team greed. From what I have seen, if the decision is laid on the team, the team almost always says yes. Cal will probably put that decision on his team if he gets to the point he thinks the team might need Sharpe.”
25 Responses
I don’t think he plays this season. In fact, I’ll be surprised if he plays at all. By enrolling now, he will, most likely, cash in on some NIL money and can move on before next season if he so desires. Of course, this is just my opinion which isn’t worth anything to anyone other than myself.
He has nowhere to go isnt draft eligible
He’s Not going Anywhere Regardless for one he has Guaranteed he’s coming and staying to play at Kentucky next year no matter what and most important of all he is Not Eligible for the 2022 Draft no matter what! Soo it Only benefits himself to stay at Kentucky the rest of this year and next to Cash in on the NIL the most he can at Kentucky and then enter the 2023 Draft
I don’t think he plays this season. In fact, I’ll be surprised if he plays at all. By enrolling now, he will, most likely, cash in on some NIL money and can move on before next season if he so desires. Of course, this is just my opinion which isn’t worth anything to anyone other than myself.
He isn’t moving on afyer this season. He won’t be eligible for the draft. I agree though, I don’t think he’s pkaying this season.
I agree James
He isn’t eligible for the draft next year
That’s how it seems but remember there can often be exceptions, loopholes to a lot of rules. Long time until June
There are options other than the NBA draft.
Then he wouldn’t have came to Kentucky in the first place. Those options were available to him before he committed. He will play next year
Jason’s must think alike lol, Because what James isn’t understanding that besides just not being eligible for the 2022 draft that if Sharpe left Kentucky even for let’s say the G league that would hurt him worse because he would then have to wait another extra year until the 2024 NBA Draft!
It will be a great temptation to play when you are a top five player. Someone is going to transfer in January if times don’t pick up. Players in the top 20 don’t ride the bench like Hopkins and Allen. 25 minutes is a big loss to someone currently on the roster like Mintz.
You could be right John. Had not really thought about transfers in January
He’s enrolling early so he can pump iron. Who’s going to play center next year? Ware?
Oscars stock unfortunately has been stoked and Sea of Blue thinks Collins (a guy who didn’t start playing ball until JR in HS) is 1st round draft pick. Really? Maybe coach can lean towards Stoops for some muscle.
it is a long time until June, Greg
With CJ out now. That could loom a possibility
Going to be interesting but I was not sure how much CJ would play ahead of TyTy, Sahvir, Grady and Mintz
I love the heart of the Ky player’s this year. When you have a team with heart and fight in them, only good thing’s will happen.
If Sharpe were a big, he would play for sure. And I say if he’s that good as advertised, then play ball. I would want to play with the best. Why would you recruit a kid and not let him play. He obviously want’s to.
Fair points KyKevin
There aren’t enough minutes to go around as it is. Let him get his academics in order, workout with the team, and be ready for next year like Oscar did last year.
The Platoon system worked out pretty damn good and weather you wanna call it that or not? That’s Exactly what Kentucky is already doing now so why not throw Shaedon into the mix Especially since there’s a space now where CJ Was going to play as soon as he got heathy but since he’s out for the season now just give the time you had planned for CJ TO SHAEDON and let him ball!? Because you Know Calipari already had a plan drew up for CJ for the season season!!!
Kids don’t want to platoon, they want to play. The platooning worked great for us until Coach let Andrew Harrison throw an undefeated championship season away. It made recruiting difficult the next couple of years though. There are roughly enough minutes for 8 kids if they stay out of foul trouble. I see the starters as Wheeler, Washington, Grady, Brooks, and Tshiebwe. The next 3 are Mintz, Ware, and Collins. Allen and Hopkins are good enough to play, but won’t see more than cleanup minutes unless someone gets hurt. How would Sharpe help us more than hurt us? I can tell you that NOBODY will be willing to give him any of their minutes. We are in good shape the way we are. If Sharpe was a 7 footer, that would be different, but he isn’t. Sharpe will get his time next year.
Oh, I forgot about Toppin. When he heals up, he will be looking for minutes too that may not be there if Collins gets his game together.
Only reason there’s any of this speculation is because Sharpe has been so hyped. Oscar came in January last year without this discussion and we sure as heck coulda used him last year. None of these scenarios about Sharpe really make sense. He could have already decided to go G League, He says he won’t turn pro in 2022. If he’s the type who doesn’t keep his word, then we didn’t need him anyway. Sharpe will suit up for UK in 2022-23 and will still be the center of attention.
Oscar was a transfer so he wasn’t eligible to play immediately so there was no need for this conversation. Sharpe is an incoming freshman so he is eligible as soon as he’s on campus. That being said I don’t think they play him unless our current depth thins out for whatever reason.