SEC Basketball 2022 NBA Draft Preview: Kentucky SG Shaedon Sharpe

When taking a look at the SEC Basketball players available in the 2022 NBA Draft, there may not be a more-intriguing name than Shaedon Sharpe.

A likely Top 10 pick in this year’s draft, Sharpe is potentially set to become Kentucky’s highest-drafted player since Kevin Knox (No. 9 overall) in 2018, as well as potentially the Wildcats first player to go top five since De’Aaron Fox in 2017. A player who will be drafted having never played a collegiate game, where could Sharpe be selected in the 2022 NBA Draft, and how might he translate to the professional game?

SEC Basketball 2022 NBA Draft Preview: Kentucky SG Shaedon Sharpe

As mentioned previously, Sharpe never appeared in a game at Kentucky this past season, even despite having joined the Wildcats mid-way through the year.

A highly-touted prep prospect, Sharpe was originally rated as the nation’s No. 1 overall player in the 2022 class before reclassifying to 2021 where he would be rated No. 3 overall. A talented player on both ends of the court, Sharpe would’ve likely been one of the top players in SEC Basketball next season should he have returned to Kentucky, but looking ahead however, how will the talented guard translate to the NBA next season?

Strengths

While he never appeared in a game at Kentucky, Sharpe obviously came out of high school as one of the nation’s top overall players. At 6-foot-6, Sharpe is a skilled player offensively who can score from all three levels on the court, evident by his average of 22.6 PPG at the 2021 Nike EYBL, as well as 24.1 PPG as a junior at Dream City Christian Academy in Arizona.

In addition to that, Sharpe also has the potential to be an impact defender at the next level, with the athleticism and length to guard multiple positions on the perimeter. The former five-star truly has the potential to be an impact guard in the NBA in all facets of the game, making Sharpe’s upside arguably higher than any other guard available in the 2022 NBA Draft.

How He Projects in NBA

Sharpe has the talent and potential to be an All-Star caliber player in the future, as well as one of the best guards from this 2022 NBA Draft class. The former five-star however may take some time next season before fully getting adjusted to the professional game having not played in over a year, but the potential with Sharpe is evident, one that could see the Kentucky freshman become one of the most-talented guards in the NBA in the future.

Potential Draft Fits

Sharpe is a likely Top 10 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and could even be the first guard taken depending on where Purdue’s Jaden Ivey, Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji, and Arizona’s Benedict Mathurin land. As for the fits, Sharpe could potentially go as early as No. 4 to the Kings, with it unlikely that he falls past the Spurs at No. 9.

Draft Prediction

Overall, I’ll say that Sharpe is SEC Basketball’s second player selected in the 2022 NBA Draft, landing anywhere from picks 4-6 with either the Kings, Pistons, or Pacers.