NBA lottery's mystery man Shaedon Sharpe to visit Pacers: 'I guess I did something right.'
Shaedon Sharpe, the most mysterious lottery prospect in Thursday's NBA draft, will work out for the Indiana Pacers on Monday.
The 6-6 guard was the No. 1 high school recruit in the country when he committed to Kentucky, but it remains unclear why he never played for the Wildcats. Sharpe, 19, was not injured and only practiced during his lone college season.
Despite not appearing in a game since high school, Sharpe is still viewed as a potential franchise-altering player, and he's on the Pacers' radar with the No. 6 overall pick.
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"I feel like I could really play with those guys just because they have good guys that can really handle the ball, play defense, switch on defense," Sharpe said of Indiana during a Zoom news conference Friday. "I feel like I can score and really impact the game."
Sharpe's offensive repertoire and freakish athleticism have been raved about throughout the draft process, and he may fit well alongside Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton. But unlike his other highly-touted counterparts, Sharpe's skills haven't been displayed in an organized game in nearly a year, which makes drafting him a risky decision for lottery teams.
Asked if he regrets not showcasing his talent at Kentucky, which lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Sharpe said he's moved on.
"Like I said before, everything happens for a reason, so I really don't regret (not) playing," Sharpe said. "I'm working out for NBA teams now, so I guess I did something right.
"I did talk to (John Calipari) about it, my coach, trainer and even my parents, but at the end of the day it was my decision to not play."
Sharpe said he understands the "curiosity and mystery" surrounding him and remains confident. He listed Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, and current stars Boston's Jayson Tatum, Washington's Bradley Beal and Chicago's Zach LaVine as players he models his game after.
Sharpe has worked out for the Magic (No. 1 pick), Thunder (No. 2), Pistons (No. 5), Trail Blazers (No. 7) and Hornets (No. 13), with the Pacers up next. Whichever team selects him, he believes it'll be the start of something special.
"I see myself being one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball," Sharpe said. "Just playing at the highest level, just really getting after it and competing. One of my goals coming in as a rookie is just win Rookie of the Year. That's one of the goals and then also (become an) All-Star and later on Hall of Fame."
Follow IndyStar Pacers Insider James Boyd on Twitter at @RomeovilleKid.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NBA draft: Pacers to host mysterious Shaedon Sharpe for workout
