Prospect Watch: Shaedon Sharpe's Draft Stock
With news that Kentucky's Shaedon Sharpe might be eligible for the draft, where would he go in the 2022 Draft? Plus our Rookie(s) and Draft Prospect of the Week
During the NBA, college and international seasons, my Tuesday newsletter (running Monday this week!) will focus on NBA rookies and sophomores as well as prospects for the 2022 NBA Draft, especially those who have helped or hurt their stock in the past week.
My reports will be based on my own observations as well as information I receive from NBA scouts, executives and agents.
Will Shaedon Sharpe be a top-5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft?
ESPN reported on Thursday that Kentucky signee Shaedon Sharpe can apply for early entry to the 2022 NBA draft.
Earlier reports from ESPN, dating back to November, had said Sharpe would be ineligible for the 2022 NBA Draft because he hadn’t graduated from high school before the NBA season.
On Thursday, via Twitter, ESPN reported that Sharpe “is eligible to enter the 2022 NBA draft.”
In a subsequent news story, ESPN adjusted the language to say that Sharpe “can apply for the 2022 NBA Draft.”
The change in language might be significant. The NBA has the last word on draft eligibility, and it’s not clear whether the league has made a decision on Sharpe’s eligibility.
After Thursday’s news broke, a clamor arose among NBA teams about the potential for Sharpe to be in the 2022 draft (though some claimed they already knew).
But before we get ahead of ourselves, The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker, expert on all things Kentucky basketball, chimed in with this important info:
I spoke to Tucker on a special Saturday podcast, and he gave great insights into Kentucky draft prospects Sharpe, TyTy Washington, Daimion Collins and Oscar Tshiebwe (see below in our Draft Prospect of the Week).
It was evident from my conversation with Tucker that: