Shaedon Sharpe moves to No. 1 in ESPN's 2022 Rankings

Shaedon Sharpe is now considered the No. 1 player in the 2022 class by three of the four major recruiting services. ESPN updated its 2022 rankings this morning and bumped Sharpe from No. 6 to No. 1. The five-star shooting guard now claims the top spot in rankings by On3, Rivals, and ESPN. And, oh yeah, he very well may commit to Kentucky in the very near future.

What prompted ESPN to move Sharpe to No. 1? Paul Biancardi cited Sharpe’s “elite ability to produce points within a team flow” on the EYBL circuit this summer, where he averaged 22 points per game. He also included a quote from Sharpe’s coach Dwayne Washington, who also coached former UK point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

A strong and explosive shooting guard, he is a shot maker both off the dribble and from a catch-and-shoot scenario. He has demonstrated the exceptional ability to create his own shot as well. Whether it’s a set play or a broken play, Sharpe will make opponents pay.

Shape is outstanding from the mid-range and is a consistent transition pull-up 3-point shooter. He drives the ball with a quick first step and can leverage himself by getting low and keeping defenders on his hip. His shooting range and accuracy are both on point in large part because of his shoot readiness, elevation to lift up over defenders and balanced finish.

“I coached Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett and Caleb Houstan. Shaedon is just as talented,” said Sharpe’s coach, UPLAY director Dwayne Washington. “He is a simple kid — a no-limelight guy. He plays to win and loves competitive matchups. Shadeon falls in love with the process of improving. That’s what makes him special.”

ESPN

Other Kentucky targets in the new ESPN 2022 Rankings

Fellow Kentucky targets Derek Lively and Cason Wallace also made big jumps in ESPN’s 2022 rankings, moving up to No. 2 and No. 9, respectively. Wallace and Sharpe wrapped up visits to Kentucky in recent days. Skyy Clarke, Kentucky’s lone commit in the 2022 class, is No. 16. Here’s where all of Kentucky’s 2022 offers landed:

• 1. Shaedon Sharpe, SG
• 2. Derek Lively, C
• 6. Nick Smith, SG
• 8. Jaden Bradley, PG
• 9. Cason Wallace, PG
• 12. Chris Livingston, SF
• 13. Brandon Miller, SF
• 16. Skyy Clarke (COMMITTED)
• 17. Adem Bona, C

The buzz is Sharpe will announce his decision soon, possibly this weekend. Until then, enjoy his highlights.