Kentucky reportedly contacts 7-foot-5 WKU transfer Jamarion Sharp

A familiar face is hearing from the Wildcats.

Jamarion Sharp, who spent the last two seasons as a full-time starter for Western Kentucky, has been in contact with Kentucky men’s basketball, per 24/7 High School Hoops. Sharp is an incredibly unique prospect, checking in at 7-foot-5, 225 pounds which makes him the tallest player in Division I. He’s considered one of the country’s top rim protectors, recording 4.6 blocks per game in 2021-22 then 4.1 per game this past season in 2022-23.

Along with Kentucky, Sharp has reportedly heard from the likes of Arkansas, Missouri, Ole Miss, Florida, Florida State, Nebraska, LSU, UNLV, Memphis, Wake Forest, Gonzaga, NC State, and Cincinnati. He initially entered his name into the transfer portal on March 29 while also announcing that he will test the NBA Draft waters. Sharp went into the portal last offseason too before ultimately returning to WKU.

Western Kentucky transfer Jamarion Sharp has been hearing from these schools, a source tells me:

Kentucky
Arkansas
Missouri
Ole Miss
Florida
Florida State
Nebraska
LSU
UNLV
Memphis
Wake Forest
Gonzaga
NC State
Cincinnati

Sharp averaged 7.4PPG, 7.7RPG and 4.1BPG last season. pic.twitter.com/7sUPPAbOt1

— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) April 11, 2023

There’s no denying that Sharp, who graduated from Hopkinsville (KY) High School in 2019, is one of the premier rim protectors in all of college basketball — if not the best. He led the NCAA in blocks per game during both seasons with the Hilltoppers, winning two Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year awards in the process. Last season, Sharp also made the All-Conference USA Team after putting up averages of 7.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per outing on 62.8 percent shooting.

Prior to attending Western Kentucky, Sharp spent two seasons playing at the junior college level for John A. Logan College.

Kentucky is still waiting on decisions from its own big men, including Oscar Tshiebwe, Ugonna Onyenso, and Daimion Collins. Both Tshiebwe and Onyenso have been trending toward a return to UK, although nothing is official just yet, while Collins is ultimately expected to transfer. Additionally, Kentucky is already set to bring in a seven-footer for next season’s squad, 7-foot-1 freshman Aaron Bradshaw. 6-foot-9 forward Lance Ware is expected to return, too.

Would there be room in the Wildcats’ frontcourt for Sharp to join? He even has experience playing against Kentucky, posting eight points, six rebounds, and seven blocks in 25 minutes in a Hilltoppers’ loss to the ‘Cats back on Dec. 22, 2022.

One team in particular to look out for in regard to Sharp would be the Missouri Tigers. Assistant coach Kyle Smithpeters, who joined the staff last April, was the head coach at John A. Logan from 2012-22 where he coached Sharp for both his years in the JUCO ranks.

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KSR Update:

Sources tell KSR’s Jack Pilgrim that Kentucky did, in fact, reach out to the 7-foot-5 center. That conversation, though, was a quick introductory chat with minimal traction. It also took place before things began trending back in the Wildcats’ direction for Ugonna Onyenso, who is seriously considering a return to Lexington for his sophomore campaign.

UK likes Sharp, but the school’s top priority is to bring back the shot-blocking 7-footer it already has on the roster.