Shaedon Sharpe, right, figures to stay on the bench again today against Tennessee. (Vicky Graff Photo)
On his weekly radio show, John Calipari teased Kentucky fans coming to today’s game against Tennessee by telling them to get there early so they could see Shaedon Sharpe work out. Sharpe, the former No. 1 player in the 2022 recruiting class, has yet to play in a game since arriving at UK after reclassifying. He’s been on the bench for the last two games and that’s likely where he will stay in today’s game also based on what Calipari said Friday.
“I mean, if he’s not ready to play I would not put him out there. I mean, I would say, ‘Come on. This kid just came here, how do you make us (play him?) You can’t do that to the kid.’ Unless he’s ready,” Calipari said Friday.
What if he was ready?
“If he’s ready I say, ‘Let’s go.’ But he practiced yesterday. He’s going to practice today. We’re doing stuff with him,” Calipari said.
The Kentucky coach said Sharpe, like most freshmen when they arrive on campus, is behind in speed, intensity, and spirit of the game along with communicating more.
“He’s way behind in those areas,” Calipari said. “But his skill set and what he does – and he’s comfortable when you put him in different situations – he’s good there.
“But it’s the most important stuff: the speed of the game, the aggressiveness of the game, how hard you have to play and talk. You can’t take possessions off, you just can’t. And so, he’s learning all of that. And we’ll learn it on the run.”
