History was made the Last Time Jamarion Sharp Played at Rupp Arena

The tallest player in college basketball will take the floor tonight against Kentucky. A 7-foot-5 center from Hopkinsville, Jamarion Sharp is no stranger to the bright lights at Rupp Arena. Unlike his Ole Miss teammate, Jaylen Murray, Sharp did not experience success against the Wildcats.

Sharp began his collegiate career in the JUCO ranks before Rick Stansbury brought him home to Western Kentucky. The Tops were not originally on the schedule for the 2021-22 season. A Covid outbreak at Louisville forced the Cats to change things up, bringing WKU to Rupp Arena to benefit victims of the devastating tornados in that part of the state.

Kentucky was ranked 20th, picking up momentum with a retooled roster that relied heavily on transfers. Oscar Tshiebwe made an immediate impact, gobbling up 20 rebounds in each of his first two games in a Kentucky uniform. Little did we know that he was just getting started.

Oscar was a physical presence inside, but if there was one thing that seemed to bother him, it was length. Sharp could pose a big problem in the paint. That was not the case whatsoever.

Tshiebwe scored 14 points over the long center, but it was what he did on the glass that rocked the college basketball world. He was a magnet to the ball, seemingly grabbing every missed shot off the rim. By the end of the night, Tshiebwe set a new Rupp Arena record, surpassing Shaquille O’Neal with 28 rebounds. He dedicated his performance to the tornado victims.

“Today, I was coming out for 20 [rebounds],” he said after the 95-60 victory over WKU. “I told God, I said, ‘Today, I’m gonna go rebound for Western Kentucky, those people who lost their families and everything. I’m going to go fight for them.’ My plan was 20 rebounds. God said, ‘I have eight more for you.’”

Sharp was limited to eight points and six boards, but he blocked seven shots. Will the SEC’s shot-blocking leader return to Rupp with a vengeance? We’ll see how the Wildcats’ post players respond following an embarrassing performance against Gonzaga. Tip-off is at 9 pm EST on ESPN.

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