Keion Brooks believe Shaedon Sharpe is going to be "really good." (Twitter Photo)
From Oscar Tshiebwe’s perspective, adding a talented player like Shaedon Sharpe to Kentucky’s roster — even in early January — can only help. The 6-7 Sharpe was the top-rated player in the 2022 recruiting class who is now at UK after reclassifying.
Tshiebwe said Kentucky coach John Calipari told the players he might put Sharpe in a game and he could bring more than expected.
“For me he is working. If he can help us, he can help us,” Tshiebwe said. “You cannot say no to anything that might help you. I am glad to see him. He is doing stuff with the athletics trainer to make sure he is good. I cannot wait to see what he brings to help us.”
Junior Keion Brooks, Sharpe’s suite mate, says the team is not not to “outcast or shun” someone because he has not been with other players since June.
“As soon as he got here, he is part of us. Just give him a chance and opportunity to be himself,” Brooks said Friday. “Do not throw the weight of the world on his shoulders. Let him come in and find his way. We are not expecting him to be this or that. Just let him get better every day and with that he will help our team.”
Brooks said his best advice to Sharpe is to let him know every player went through similar things coming in as a freshman learning to be part of a new team.
“If he has questions, I will be there to help him best I can,” Brooks said.
Can he help the team?
“That’s a good question. He just got here, so we have to figure that out,” Brooks said. “I watched him work out and we know he is a good player and he is going to be really good. We have got to figure out the plan. I am pretty sure Coach (John Calipari) has something in store for him.”
