John Calipari on Shaedon Sharpe: "It is not done.”

Shaedon Sharpe is testing the NBA Draft waters, but maintaining his college eligibility for a potential return to Kentucky. Officially, at least.

While Sharpe himself announced he’s leaving the door open, The Athletic and ESPN both reported Thursday that the standout guard planned to keep his name in the draft, ending his time in Lexington before it really even began.

John Calipari is on the same page as Sharpe on the first announcement. As for the national reports regarding his decision to leave school for good, that’d be news to the Kentucky head coach.

In an interview with Dan Issel and Mike Pratt on their daily radio show, Calipari said Sharpe is still on campus and taking classes. The plan remains the same between Kentucky, Sharpe and his parents.

“Well, he was in class today,” Calipari said. “And part of the reason I was a little late getting on (the show), I hadn’t seen him in about a week, so I just wanted to — he walked in and said hello. I said, ‘Get in here,’ and we talked. Here’s what I’ll tell everybody: nothing has changed in the last two months about how we’re going about this. I’m talking to his mother and father. And we’re talking once a week, I’m not overbearing with this stuff, but they will play a part in this.”

With Sharpe’s draft stock high, Calipari said it was in the five-star guard’s best interest to explore that process. If he earns a can’t-miss draft grade when talking to teams, why not take advantage of it? If not, a return to Lexington remains on the table. Sharpe has enrolled in summer and fall classes while also keeping his belongings at the Wildcat Coal Lodge in case the latter situation unfolds.

“What changed is, he was coming back, that was the plan,” Calipari said. “Then all of a sudden some circumstances changed and maybe he can be picked in those early, early picks. Maybe he can’t. He signed up for classes, both summer and fall. He put his stuff from his room in the basement of the Lodge because you can’t keep it in there (during the offseason). Kids that are coming back just put it down there, he put his stuff down there. We don’t know.”

Could he receive a draft guarantee that is simply too high to pass up? Calipari says it’s possible. Until that moment comes, though, this process is not over.

And because of that, he asks Kentucky fans to remain patient and let things play out.

“All I can tell you is he may do this, but it’s not done,” Calipari said. “Now if you were him and everybody got nasty, like my calls now — don’t let that small group affect you making the decision you want to make. I had to call his mom, you know? Another thing, he’s another Canadian kid. We’ve done well with Canadians, right? Wouldn’t you say? I don’t want this to affect any other Canadian kids. I mean, again, our fans are the best. I look at this and they know, like let’s not hurt recruiting. Let’s not hurt it.”

He understands the frustration that comes with heartbreaking losses or difficult situations like the one with Sharpe. What he wants to make clear, though, is that Kentucky is on top of things and will always put winning first.

“I mean, you get angry, I moved on from that (St. Peter’s) game,” Calipari said. “Did I grieve? What? Did I think it hurt? What? I’ve never had a team do that in my career. We’ve never been in that where we lost to a double seed, but I’m done with it. It’s next. How do we win next year? Winning championships, I said when I was hired that’s the only thing we put on this wall in here. That’s it. For anyone to say anything else, that my team or me, my staff, we don’t care about winning, you’ve got a problem with something else. One-and-done, whatever else it is.

“To say that, anybody that knows me, the preparation and what this is, it’s crazy. I get it, when people get mad they say stuff. Part of the tax you pay to be the Kentucky coach is that right there. And you know what? People don’t have access to this program. They don’t. What happens is, guys get angry. All I can tell you is, we’re on top of stuff.”

Calipari was down in Dawson Springs with the team and didn’t even see the reports about Sharpe’s departure until Thursday evening. With chatter going wild, the Kentucky head coach called Sharpe’s mother to make sure everyone was still on the same page. They were.

He compared Sharpe’s situation to Hamidou Diallo his first semester at Kentucky and that draft process. It’s different, but it worked out for everyone in the end. He’s familiar with this process.

“I didn’t see all the stuff that was being written, Orlando (Antigua) called me last night. … He said, ‘Yeah, the stuff with Shaedon…’ I’m like what? I didn’t even know,” Calipari said. “So I called mom this morning just to make sure we’re on top of stuff. I’m telling you he may do this. If he’s the fifth or sixth pick and it’s a guarantee, what will I tell him to do? Go. Why would you be mad? I did this with Hami(Diallo). He was going to be a second-round pick. What did I tell him? Come back. Not only did I tell him to come back, he says that was the best decision he’s ever made. I went to the workouts with him to make sure no one fooled him. I’ve done this.”

At the end of the day, Sharpe knows he’s wanted in Lexington. He knows he has a consensus National Player of the Year by his side if he comes back. Calipari wants the standout guard to focus on the good and ignore the outside noise.

“You know what? Shaedon knows I want to coach him. Shaedon knows that Oscar (Tshiebwe) is coming back,” Calipari said. “Don’t let all of the negative stuff affect your decision. If you want to come back, that should play no part. Let that alone. He’s another great kid. He’s a great kid, man. You want him to be more ‘go’ and all that, but he is who he is. Very talented, great teammate.”