Shaedon Sharpe eligible for the 2022 NBA draft

[BigBlueFanGA]

This makes it even less likely he plays this year. Clearly going to the draft. This was literally just for Cal to show he can still recruit the big ones. Nothing to do with helping our program.

If the kid never plays, Cal didn't recruit anything.

 

[KA4Prez]

"Perceived top 5 pick in the draft" and we ACTUALLY think he won't just ghost and not enter the Draft?

If I was in his shoes I would never step foot on a college court. His path is paved. He doesn't have to do a single thing to keep it clear.

 

[BlueRunner11]

After he didn’t play in the second half of the UT blowout, was pretty obvious he wasn’t going to play any this year.

Well I’m sure it’s still good for the program, right? Right?!

 

[Creed Bratton]

If there is a positive it's that he won't be playing for Duke, UNC or Kansas next year either.

 

[ck-2]

Looks like they’ve known this all along. Just another hoodwink on the “basketball benny’s”.

 

[SpamburgerHamburger]

Let's see...Cal created this one and done model. Constantly talks about the NBA and contract money his former players are making. Holds a Pro day for NBA scouts to attend every year before the season starts.

Yeah, he's totally blameless in all of this. Hard to understand why kids would be thinking about the NBA they way they do at UK.

So you're saying he uses all the available resources to recruit the best players he can. Good for him. It's delusional to not recruit or take a kid like Sharpe even if he goes to the draft. Worth the shot.

 

[gwjenning]

hes from Canada, he cant get NIL.

Have you seen his Porsche commercial? He’s making $$$$$

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Hangers on help make decisions. That's always immediate money.

 

[KA4Prez]

The fan base won't survive the fracture if the team loses in March because of an offensive game like last night, Sharpe never plays at UK and he then enters the 2022 NBA Draft.

And I can't blame people for being pissed about it if that's how it plays out.

 

[DeerTurkHunter1]

You don’t think there’s momentum involved in recruiting? You don’t think Cal didn’t hear the “he can’t land the big ones anymore” stuff?

You're exactly right. Anyone who thinks the signing of the #1 recruit doesn't help Cal or UK, well I don't know what to say about them.

 

[Cawood86]

According to Kyle Tucker, this isn't new information to UK or Sharpe and they were wanting to keep it quiet because of speculation. He says that whether Sharpe plays this year or not, as of today, he still plans on coming back next season.

As of today is the key phrase there....kid is gone looke like, maybe without ever playing. Cal is such a trendsetter. New policy, recruit the best, sign the best. Watch the best leave without ever playing.

What a time to be alive as a UK fan.

 

[gwjenning]

Cal has basically already told SS that when he wants to play, he can play. Said this the other day. Just waiting on SS and his camp to give the green light.

What coach leaves it up to the player and his camp when they play?

 

[catman111]

I say don't come here if you don't plan on playing here.

And no NIL money should be allowed if the player doesn’t play.

 

[Cawood86]

Find a new team

Find a new line

 

[blubo]

Cal is getting played like a fiddle

bbn the fiddle—cal the fiddler.

 

[STL_Cat]

I suppose there's no use in getting pre-emptively pissed, but it's pretty easy to have the foresight to see what's coming. I love the guys we are playing this year. Love them. One of the most likable groups of guys we've had in years. If Shaedon Sharpe wants to join these guys and go to battle with them, then LFG! I'm psyched to see it.

If he doesn't, then he and especially his "CAMP" can go on down the road. That's just imo.

 

[Padsfs07]

I definitely thought that recent quote Cal had about how transfers will want to come here after all the success they’ve had here this year was interesting given his previous tone about transfers if need be. Without Sharpe next years class isn’t special. Skyy-ehh, Cason-Shai/Bledsoe type, Chris-Keldon Johnson type. This is huge for next years team. I have no reason to believe he comes back if he can go be a top 10 pick with no risk of injury or bad play. Transfers, a small recruiting class, and some returners…feels like we’ll run this season back again next. Not necessarily a bad thing

Guards - Wheeler, Skyy Clark, Wallace, and Fredrick

Wings - Livingston, Allen

Frontcourt - Toppin, Hopkins, Collins, Ware, maybe Brooks, maybe Oscar even.

Likely losing Sharpe hurts for sure, but it’s not a terrible base for the team with a lot of time left to add to the roster.

 

[ck-2]

And no NIL money should be allowed if the player doesn’t play.

Or a lifetime scholarship.

 

[RunninRichie]

lol at guys putting stock in kyle tuckers word. same guy who said Hunter Sallis didn't pick UK because the fans didnt like the kneeling.

 

[SpamburgerHamburger]

If both UK and Sharpe knew he'd be eligible for the draft, and still came to UK, I almost feel better because why even come to UK for 3 months if you knew. If he's already projected top 10, being at UK 3 months will have zero affect on that. Why have practice limits and school work like college players do. Just go prepare for the draft if that's the plan all along.

 

[Cawood86]

So your stance here is UK just shouldnt of recruited him, right?

Does signing the top recruit matter if he never plays?

 

[RunninRichie]

I suppose there's no use in getting pre-emptively pissed, but it's pretty easy to have the foresight to see what's coming. I love the guys we are playing this year. Love them. One of the most likable groups of guys we've had in years. If Shaedon Sharpe wants to join these guys and go to battle with them, then LFG! I'm psyched to see it.

If he doesn't, then he and especially his "CAMP" can go on down the road. That's just imo.

''hey Shaedon did you get your mom to sign the permission slip I gave you so you could play?'' ''nah, not yet coach''

 

[FitchandMurray29]

1. This was not a shock to Cal....but he let Sharpe come on board anyway. And Cal has an idea of Sharpe truly plans to come back for 2022 - 23 collegiate season. All the other sideshow blurbs are Cal baloney....plain and simple.

2. Here is the rub for UK fans....
- We are never building for a title but for the year we are in. Can the current team win it all w/o Sharpe. Maybe but I'd say Saturday will go along way toward making that call. So if we arent' a solid favorite...we need Sharpe right now
- And then on to 2022-23 team. We have probably lost the #1 player and SF player to play alongside of the Fr next year and holdovers like Collins, Ware, Hopkins, etc... We thought Center was our main hole left to fill...now we have a hole at the SF spot as well...and we've not gotten other top wings in that class as we took Sharpe's commitment and thought we were done.

If we come up short with this year's team and now next year's team will have holes....fans are going to have their reactions and i hitnk they have a very good reason to not be happy.

Completely agree with point 1. Everyone involved knows what the real plan is regardless of public statements. Your second point is interesting. I think he could help this team. But do you have a top 10 pick come off the bench? Would he want to do that? Do you bench the top 3 point shooter in the SEC? Do you bench our engine in Sahvir? He doesn’t fit well on our current roster but no debate he could definitely help. Next year was where it made so much sense. Now I think you move Livingston from a 3/4 to a 3. The rest still is a lot TBD.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Guards - He gone

Wings - He gone

Frontcourt - Ware and He gone

Likely losing Sharpe hurts for sure, but it’s not a terrible base for the team with a lot of time left to add to the roster.

Fify.

Joking

 

[KA4Prez]

The reason he came to UK is because he gets the clout of coming to UK, he gets to experience a media frenzy/media coverage of the team that NO OTHER college program can prepare you for and gets to practice against other pros.

It's actually very beneficial for him to get a free ride at UK. Probably huge for his life maturity.

 

[BlueRunner11]

If both UK and Sharpe knew he'd be eligible for the draft, and still came to UK, I almost feel better because why even come to UK for 3 months if you knew. If he's already projected top 10, being at UK 3 months will have zero affect on that. Why have practice limits and school work like college players do. Just go prepare for the draft if that's the plan all along.

School work? In his few months on campus? Lol that’s adorable.

 

[BigCat241]

If Sharpe leaves, who else would you blame? Apparently Cal knew he was eligible for the draft this year. All we can do is wait and see for now.

Well sometimes there are situations where you cant really blame anyone. and if anything I would blame Sharpe before Cal.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Seriously at what other school would this happen? I wish John Wooden wouldn't have played Kareem and Bill Walton even though I was a baby and a toddler then

 

[BourbonBalz]

You don’t think there’s momentum involved in recruiting? You don’t think Cal didn’t hear the “he can’t land the big ones anymore” stuff?

LOL. What good does landing them do if they never play? It would actually make Cal look like a stooge if he ends up never playing.

 

[LowCountryCat]

We’re gonna get clobbered by auburn but we’ll show them when we win draft night!

wE cAn'T DiStUrB tEaM cHeMiStRY!!!!!

 

[catman111]

Cal is getting played like a fiddle

Unfortunately, Cal knows and wanted this info hidden. It’s the UK fans being played.

 

[BigCat241]

Let's see...Cal created this one and done model. Constantly talks about the NBA and contract money his former players are making. Holds a Pro day for NBA scouts to attend every year before the season starts.

Yeah, he's totally blameless in all of this. Hard to understand why kids would be thinking about the NBA they way they do at UK.

What should Cal do in this situation? Literally the only option is too just not recruit the #1 player in the class

 

[FitchandMurray29]

If Sharpe leaves, who else would you blame? Apparently Cal knew he was eligible for the draft this year. All we can do is wait and see for now.

You can definitely blame Cal but what is the damage done here? Unless you have a clear recruit we missed in 2022 because we had Shaedon, all that happened is kid was added to our practice squad for a few months and got a Porsche. Optics are bad, no arguments there. Kid would’ve been eligible or not eligible for the draft regardless of him enrolling like he did.

 

[shaudyshaud]

Since it says he plans to stay I won’t bash this decision like he has already entered the draft . I’ll take his word .

With that said my confidence in him stepping on the court in a Kentucky uniform is low very low.

 

[RunninRichie]

Unfortunately, Cal knows and wanted this info hidden. It’s the UK fans being played.

I wonder why he wanted it hidden. Cal is probably trying to call in a hit on the ''source''

 

[Padsfs07]

This is a win/win gamble for Cal IMO.

1. He stays and UK gets a guy who is the number 1 recruit in the country and who has a half a year of practices with the team under his belt. So, he should be even further along than almost any other freshman in the country in 2022/2023.

2. He leaves to the NBA draft. Well, UK still got him for the second half of the season, where they could use him in practice, a luxury no other team has. Now our guards and forwards have increased competition every day, which only helps them to improve for this year and beyond. We have an open scholarship, so we didn't waste this on him when we could have used it on someone else.

3. Even if he doesn't log minutes in a game, Cal and UK will still claim him if he does well in the NBA. They'll still prop him up as someone that Cal helped to mold into a better player. That can only continue to help us in recruiting.

I just don't see the downside other than it just being a buzz kill that we as fans don't get to see him in games.

It’s not a win/win. We basically gave up on Nick Smith and Dillingham could re-classify so we missed out on them by having a perceived player already on the team. Plus we may be in the same boat when the transfer season starts in April/May.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

He Play and play soon now that this has leaked or there could be a mutiny.

 

[Cawood86]

If both UK and Sharpe knew he'd be eligible for the draft, and still came to UK, I almost feel better because why even come to UK for 3 months if you knew. If he's already projected top 10, being at UK 3 months will have zero affect on that. Why have practice limits and school work like college players do. Just go prepare for the draft if that's the plan all along.

He came to practice against better competition and maybe in part for the NIL money. He gets paid. He gets excellent traing facilities and he gets great exposure.

If he never plays, what did UK get?

 

[Catman100]

He GONE!

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Let's see...Cal created this one and done model. Constantly talks about the NBA and contract money his former players are making. Holds a Pro day for NBA scouts to attend every year before the season starts.

Yeah, he's totally blameless in all of this. Hard to understand why kids would be thinking about the NBA they way they do at UK.

Everyone got mad a me saying Cal has ruined my passion for UK basketball. This fiasco is yet another example as to why. You are correct, Cal has turned UK into an NBA farm team but these days he's even failing at that. He refuses to build teams for the future, or even try. Sharpe hasn't screwed us over yet and may not but it sure seems likely.