Projecting where 2022 top-10 consensus prospect Shaedon Sharpe will wind up

2022 top-tier prospect Shaedon Sharpe cut his options down to five recently. His recruitment is reportedly wide open.

Consensus top-10 2022 prospect Shaedon Sharpe cut his recruiting list once again on Sunday and is now down to Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, and G League Ignite — who are a new addition. He previously announced his top-10 list on Aug. 2 which also included Alabama, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and USC.

Sharpe has an NBA-type and is extremely athletic, already having a litany of highlight reels of blocks and dunks. The 6-4 five-star shooting guard is also extremely explosive and he is a three-level scorer.

Sharpe had a tremendous Nike EYBL summer session, being named the best offensive player at the Peach Jam, where he scored in double-figures seven times with three 20-point games, including a pair of 29-point outings. He also made at least three 3-pointers in five of the seven games. The Canadian-born sensation put up 22.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 28 minutes over 12 games in the EYBL overall, leading the event in points scored and finishing in the top five in 3-pointers made.

“I’ve always been a guy that can get a bucket,” Sharpe told Jonathan Givony of ESPN. “The difference is that my Uplay Canada team put me in position to make plays and really show out in the EYBL. It’s really just been a matter of getting in the gym, working on my craft, and taking advantage of opportunities.”

The Wichita (KS) native has moved up the rankings ladder over the past year. Sharpe is ranked 6th by 247 Sports, 247 Sports Composite, and ESPN. Rivals have him at No. 11.

Kentucky is considered the favorite for Sharpe, however, he has vehemently disputed that is true.

"“I’m 100% open to all options right now,” he said. “I want to see what all of them have to offer. I need to learn more about the G League in terms of what their offer is and which other players will be on the team to decide whether that’s something I want to do. People have been penciling me in with Kentucky, and I’m honestly not sure where that’s coming from. Maybe it’s because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went there from Uplay and was one and done. It’s true they were the only official visit I’ve taken so far, because all the other schools asked to wait until students were back on campus and football games were being played. No one really knows anything about my situation besides my family and Dwayne [Washington].”"

Here is a look at each of his college finalists with quotes from 247Sports Travis Branham’s article. Sharpe has taken already taken an official visit to Kentucky (June 18). He plans on taking visits to Kansas (end of August), Arizona, and Oklahoma State (Sept. 10) before making a decision.

Arizona:

"“I feel like they have a good offense and their defense is solid.”"

The Wildcats are basically in purgatory as they are still reeling from the Sean Miller saga and will be under the direction of first-time coach Tommy Lloyd. The Cats have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2018, however, they have had a lot of success producing NBA players. While no Arizona players were selected in the 2021 NBA draft, they had three players drafted last year including two first-rounders (Josh Green, Zeke Nnaji). Overall, 12 Zona players have been taken since 2013 (7 first-rounders, 4 lottery picks) and they have 12 players currently on NBA rosters.

The Cats are desperately in need of talent, particularly on the perimeter. UofA does have one commit for 2022 in 4-star center Dylan Anderson.

Kansas:

"“They’re good. I just watched their games and I like their play-style.”"

The Jayhawks have been one of the best teams in the nation since Bill Self took over the program in 2003, winning 20 games each season and reaching the Elite Eight on four occasions. Self has also done a good job at producing NBA draft picks (25, 12 lottery picks) although the Jayhawks only have had one first-round selection (Udoka Azubuike) since 2018.

KU will lose Jalen Coleman-Lands and Remy Martin after this year and possibly Ochai Agbaji (to NBA) so there is certainly a need at the 2-spot. The Jayhawks already have two commitments from the class of 2022, 4-star wing Grady Dick and 4-star center Zuby Ejiofor.

Kentucky: 

"“I think they’re good. I think they can take my game to the next level and really help me.”"

John Calipari has done an excellent job, re-stocking the talent after their usual massive turnover and coming off a terrible season. Isaiah Jackson (No. 22) and BJ Boston (second round) were chosen in this past draft.

The Wildcats do have a need at shooting guard with incoming transfer CJ Frederick and redshirt freshman Dontaie Allen being the only players on the depth chart though incoming freshman TyTy Washington is capable of playing there as well. 5-star point guard Skyy Clark is the Cats’ lone 2022 commitment.

Oklahoma State

"“They’re good. I know they’re trying to do something and they would get me better at Oklahoma State so they’re good.”"

The Cowboys are coming off their best season, reaching the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament,  under fifth-year coach Mike Boynton as they posted a 21-9 record. Right now OSU is loaded at shooting guard and they already have a commitment from 2022 SG Quion Williams. 2021 No. 1 draft pick Cade Cunningham is just the ‘Boys second-ever lottery pick.

Prediction: I believe that the choice for Sharpe will ultimately come down to Kentucky and G-League Ignite.  I think Kansas is third followed by Oklahoma State and Arizona. My guess is if he likes what he finds out about the G League Ignite that is where he is headed.