Elite guard Shaedon Sharpe plans to remain in the NBA draft and not return to Kentucky, sources told ESPN Thursday.
Sharpe announced earlier this month that he will enter the draft but retain his college eligibility. Although Sharpe has until June 1 to withdraw from the draft, he is expected to announce his intention to keep his name in it in the coming days, sources told ESPN.
Sharpe is #6 in ESPN’s NBA draft rankings.
A representative from Sharpe’s high school, Dream City Christian, Arizona, confirmed to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony Thursday that Sharpe will graduate in May 2021. His diploma is expected to be sent to the NBA league office this week, which would clear the way for him to be included on the draft early entry list.
Sharpe, a former No. 1 in the 2022 class and a surefire Lottery pick, enrolled for the spring semester in Kentucky with the expectation that he would train with the team and then play with the Wildcats during the 2022-23 season.
When ESPN reported in January that he could potentially play in the 2022 NBA draft, speculation mounted that Sharpe could start during the 2021-22 campaign. However, Sharpe didn’t appear in a game and will retire in Kentucky without playing a minute for the Wildcats.
Sharpe, a 6-foot-6 guard from Canada, rose to the top of the ESPN 100 after a dominant summer for the UPlay Canada grassroots program on the Nike EYBL circuit. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 55.6% from 2s and 36.1% from 3-point ranges.