Shaedon Sharpe first Kentucky basketball player off the board in NBA Draft

Shaedon Sharpe was the first former Kentucky player to be chosen in Thursday night’s NBA Draft when the Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the seventh overall pick.

The former No. 1-ranked basketball recruit joined UK at midseason but never suited up for the team. He had intended to play for Kentucky this fall, but had to alter those plans when draft feedback indicated he would be an early first-round pick.

The first five picks of the draft were Duke’s Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), Auburn’s Jabari Smith (Houston Rockets), Iowa’s Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings) and Purdue’s Jaden Ivey (Detroit Pistons).

Sharpe, a 6-foot-6 wing from Canada who hasn’t played an organized game of basketball in front of NBA decision-makers since last summer’s Nike Peach Jam, is considered to be one of this draft’s biggest mysteries, and one of its biggest gambles.

“Going from high school to college and not playing your college season and then straight to the NBA, it’s quite the journey but every step of the way I’ve just fought and had fun with it,” Sharpe said, according to The Associated Press.

The Trail Blazers are led by All-Star Damian Lillard.

“He’s a great guard himself and he’s been in this league for some time now, so I just can’t wait to really learn from him,” Sharpe said, according to the AP.

Sharpe is the third player in UK program history to be selected by the Trail Blazers, following Larry Steele (1971) and Sam Bowie (1984).

“Shaedon is going to a great situation in Portland which will allow him to develop and take his game to where we all know it can go,” UK Coach John Calipari said in a news release by the school.

Post-draft interview

(Supplied by the NBA)

Question: You grew up in London, Ontario. Did you go to the Stratford, the Shakespeare festivals, any hockey?

Answer: My first sport growing up was hockey, so I did like pro skating. And in terms of like festivals, I did go to like Sunfest and some other ones.

Q: What’s the first thing you’re going to buy with your NBA paycheck, and who are you looking forward to playing against?

A: I’ll probably invest my money into some type of crypto or something, or even just help my family out. But in terms of like playing against an NBA player, I’d probably say LeBron.

Q: Curious, what made you switch from hockey to playing basketball? Obviously the right decision, but what led to that?

A: Well, originally I played football. I went from hockey to playing football and then basketball. But I mean, I just found the love playing basketball with friends and family. We would play outside, in the gym at the Y. I just fell in love with it.

Q: Being from Canada, it seems like over in Canada, the Canadians, they are upset with all you guys playing basketball -- you’re laughing, so you know where I’m going with that question. Is basketball taking more sports base away from hockey in Canada?

A: I feel like basketball is taking over in Canada just because we’ve had many draft picks come out of Canada.

So yeah, I feel like it’s taking over. But hockey is still in Canada. So it’s two sports.

Q: Did today and tonight unfold how you expected it to in terms of where you went? Did you have any indication that you would go here and where you’re at now?

A: I really had no clue, honestly. I mean, when I found out where I was going, it was the same time you guys found out. I really just soaked in everything and just had fun with it.