John Calipari doubling down on Shaedon Sharpe being at UK next year

sharpe-jan-22

Shaedon Sharpe (UK Athletics Photo)

John Calipari is doubling down on Shaedon Sharpe being at Kentucky next year. Could that be like a poker player trying to bluff or is Calipari really going all-in that Sharpe will not go into the NBA draft as ESPN reported Thursday he can now do and stay at UK for the 2022-23 season? Sharpe enrolled at Kentucky this semester and has been practicing with the team. He has not played in a game.

Calipari said Friday during his Auburn pregame press conference that reports about Sharpe being eligible for the draft would not affect anything with him and his plan at Kentucky.

“No, it doesn’t change anything,” Calipari said. “He plans on being here next year. He’s watching. Whether I play him or not this year, if he’s ready to be in games, I’ll put him in.

“But he’s a great kid. He’s doing well. He’s going to make practices even better. He’s only been here two weeks. At the end of the day, you know I’m going to be for kids. That’s how I do this.”

That being for kids could mean not playing Sharpe because he’s already being projected as a top five pick in the next NBA draft. It’s doubtful he could do anything on the court to help that lofty status and might hurt his position if he plays and struggles after being on campus for such a short time.

Sharpe was the No. 1 player in the 2022  recruiting class before graduating early so he could enroll at UK.

The 6-5 guard has impressed junior teammate Oscar Tshiebwe in practice.

“He has been great. He’s been helping us. He’s doing good,” Tshiebwe said Friday. “Right now, a little bit of a problem with him is he does not know the plays. Coach has just let him practice with us.

“Whenever Coach thinks he’s ready, probably going to see him throw him in a game this year. But I don’t know what Coach is thinking about him. But for us he has been so helpful. He’s doing really good.”

15 Responses

  1. I been reading some comments by our own fans since the news broke about this and it’s a crying shame some of the comments that’s been made.. This kid will do what’s best for him and regardless he plays for the cats or not I’ll will respect his decision. Even now he’s practicing with the team not only makes himself better he’s also making the team better

    1. Comments like yours are the shameful one in my opinion. Why give this kid free lodging, food, and access to our facilities? Plus he gets to make NIL $$$$.
      There’s plenty of kids out there that are very bright but can’t afford college. Kentucky basketball wasn’t built to be used in this way.
      Sharpe and his handlers should be footing the bill if he wants to use us as a basketball camp. Everyone else has to pay for Calipari’s precious basketball camps.

      1. Uk1996champs first of all your wrong , he’s not the only player that’s come along at midterm and second of all he hasn’t said anything about that’s he’s going to the draft. Comments like your has jump the conclusion that’s he’s leaving. Pure speculation on your part is irrelevant.

        1. Cats79 I hope I am wrong about believing Sharpe never plays a game for UK. But I’m definitely not wrong about reading with my own two eyes, as I just reread it because it’s still there.
          Your post stating “regardless he plays for the cats or not I’ll will respect his decision”
          I do not agree with nor can I respect your statement!

          1. Uk1996champs, get on KSR website there’s a article that will clarify why he chose to come to ky instead taking 5 million dollars that was offer to him by various pro organizations that he turn down. Have a great day! Go cats!

  2. This situation with this kid and Calipari’s abuse of our program is shameful.

    We will see this April/May about all these promises that he will be back, and that the NBA draft in 2022 is not an option.

    This has been the party line since this situation first became publicly known.

    There is no reason that the NBA would have given a thumbs up opinion other than someone asked the question, and that question had to come from someone connected to this situation closely.

    We have seen other coaches challenged by the truth around here, and this coach is no different.

    I agree 100% with the comments above by Uk1996champs.

    1. Again get on KSR website and read the article about this same story before making judgemenst. You got to read the facts not go on pure speculation by your thoughts.

      1. Quote straight from your KSR site and Cal’s mouth after Auburn loss.

        “But I’m not just shoving him in so we can win another game or stay closer. I’m not going to do that.”

        At least Cal admits he isn’t going to do what it takes for us to win the game.

        Sharpe has been playing basketball all of his life. It’s not like he is a brain surgeon being turned loose before he is ready.

        Cal acts like asking Sharpe to play in a game is like throwing him to the wolves.
        With that reasoning, TYTy got thrown to the wolves against Duke.

        1. Putting the kid in a situation in which he may not look spectacular can hurt his draft position.

          Just like playing Jared Vanderbilt and other instances. This guy does not put the program first, and is not taking care of the program, which is what he gets paid millions of dollars every year to do.

        2. You guys got your opinion and I got mine let’s move on and cheer the current team on I really like this team maybe the best team we had since 2015 when heathy. Go cats!!

  3. There is a history here with this coach and similar situations.

    That history ought to be the teacher.

    Diallo would have gone to the NBA without ever playing a second in a game if his draft stock had been sufficient. It wasn’t, and late in the summer, he decided to come back to UK to play a season.

    That situation was a fraud too. I recall our Coach telling the world that Spring that Diallo had no plans to do anything but return to play the following season.

    Fool me once, shame on you Fool me twice shame on me.

    This coach has been clear during his entire time here. His players’ first means if a kid can go get the $’s then he goes to get the dollars.

    This is a fraud on the program and on the entire BBN.

    There is NO SPECULATION HERE, just a recitation of this coach’s history..

    1. Professor were notthe only school is doing this and I don’t like it either.time has change and it has ruin college basketball to a degree. The dollar sign has taken away the importance of getting your degree to some high profile players that jumps to NBA instead enjoying your youth and be college student for 4 years. I’m hoping this NIL rule may slow down the one and done thing and keep players in school. Time will tell.

  4. Tell me other school that enrolls a star basketball player mid year, provides scholarship funding or 1 semester, provides access to athletic facilities, coaches, and the association with the basketball programs name and goodwill so that player can side step the NBA rule requiring 1 year after high school prior to being eligible for the NBA draft.

    One school. You say UK/Calipari is not the one doing this.

    So, tell us all, one school who has done this!!

    I will be waiting.

    1. I guess I will continue to wait.

      The lack of specifics about all these other schools who allow a star player to enroll mid-season, use the facilities, attend classes on someone else’s dime, etc. for the purpose of circumventing the NBA’s one and done rule tells the story.

      There is no one else doing this.

      Only Calipari and his abuse of the University of Kentucky basketball program.

      The kid should be forced to sign an irrevocable prormise to play for UK next season, with huge (7 figure) financial penalties for violating the promise NOW. and if refuses, he should be shown the door tonight.

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