Q&A: Shaedon Sharpe's mentor breaks down early enrollment with KSR

Shaedon Sharpe is signed, sealed and delivered as a Kentucky Wildcat, putting pen to paper on the first day of the early signing period. He was one of four players to sign with UK on Wednesday, joining Skyy Clark, Chris Livingston and Cason Wallace.

Sharpe’s situation, though, is unique. The five-star guard has announced he will be enrolling early at Kentucky, joining the program in January. There, he will practice and train with the team before returning to school in 2022-23.

How did Sharpe reach this decision? What are his expectations when he arrives on campus? Is there a chance he plays this year?

KSR sat down with Sharpe’s grassroots coach and mentor, Dwayne Washington, to discuss the decision and what comes next for the newest Wildcat.

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What led to the decision, both the early enrollment itself and the timing of the announcement?

We felt like it was the right time given where he is with his development. The opportunity presented itself where he can get there, learn, get his body straight. He just felt like he was ready. He felt like he was ready to make that step to continue his development. It’s all development-based.

Timing-wise, he signs (Wednesday), so there’s no reason to sign and then do it. If he was going to make a decision like this, let’s do it before the signing so everybody knows. Now you have this, then (Wednesday) is the signing. It made sense to get it out of the way so he can get back to his development. Knowing that they play (Tuesday night), we thought it would be a good segue to the season, put that to bed so there won’t a bunch of Shaedon stories out there and let everybody focus on the team.

What are his expectations when he arrives on campus?

Whatever the team wants, he’s going to do. But he’s coming in to learn and develop, that’s what he’s coming in to do. He wants to get his body right, nutrition, and just get a head start. If you get an extra five-month head start, or five and a half, six months before the summer session, it’s going to benefit you. Given where he was playing in high school, he felt they had a really good squad and the team doesn’t need him as much. He was ready to make that transition when the opportunity presented itself, that scholarship was available. We mulled it over for 30 days or so and this was the decision he wanted to make.

Is there a sense of relief knowing this decision is over with and it’s been determined he will not be eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft? Knowing he’s able to take the next step of his journey without the outside noise?

There’s no relief, it’s fun answering these types of questions. It means he’s in a position of opportunity. This stuff doesn’t matter. We already had guys go through Kentucky, max deals, New York Knicks, RJ Barrett, all these guys who are 18-year-old draft picks. Shaedon is a part of that, this is just another step in the journey. There is no relief, not at all. Nothing anyone said had any factor, it doesn’t really matter to us. We’re coming from a mindset of — one Shaedon has specifically — he’s not worried about any of that. Hot or cold, peanut butter or jelly, it doesn’t matter. It’s just the decision he made, and he’s doing that.

His mindset is just to go there and get ready. If Coach (Cal) says, “I need you to play,” he’s going to play. He’s not going out there to play, he’s going out there to practice, but that can change at any moment. We’re in a privileged position where people care what you do, but there’s no pressure in that. The pressure is there when you don’t have these opportunities.

For those that don’t know his game, what does Shaedon bring to the table as a player?

He’s developing his game, getting better. As of right now, he’s a guy that can score the ball at all three levels. Excellent teammate, excellent passer, rebounds, extremely athletic, shot-maker off the dribble, can create for himself. He’s very competitive and likes the one-on-one battles. He has a knack for doing something at least once a night that make you go ‘wow,’ you know, entertainment. That’s what you’re going to see.

Coming early to Kentucky shows what we believe in the development, what we believe in the atmosphere, our belief of turning the coal into diamond. Otherwise, there’d be no need to get there right now. That’s a testament to what has been built by Coach Calipari at Kentucky. Again, it’s the second go-round (after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) so I know what to expect. And it went well the first time.

What do you think of Shaedon’s role on the team alongside the other pieces Kentucky has signed for 2022?

I think with the team that’s there now, the pieces that are there, everybody is healthy. (Next year), Cason Wallace is amazing, all of the guys they have (coming in). With all the guys there, we’re totally fine being the two guard, being the two that can handle when needed. A lot of guys can make plays, so it’s just about matchups. You have Cason Wallace, you already have Skyy Clark, you have those guys, so they may have the ball more. But it’s all about the situation.

We’re not trying to do the Jamal Murray thing for this year coming, for that team, because he’s fine with catch-and-shooting. I mean, these guys set you up, they make the game easy for you, and vice versa. So I think it’s just gonna be matchups. We don’t necessarily need him to be on the ball being the point guard, he’s fine playing his position, which is the shooting guard or just the guard or perimeter player, make the best plays.

Whatever the team needs he’s gonna do, he’s going to develop his whole game. If it’s called for him to handle the ball, he’ll do that. But he’s totally fine playing the two off the ball or whatever Coach needs. He’s happy to do that.

How surprised was John Calipari when you approached him about this possibility? What was his reaction?

He was quite surprised when we brought it to him and thought he may have a scholarship. But he was like, “Hey, whatever you want to do.” We just let them know we wanted to come in develop and be ready for the following year. He was all for that, just wanted to focus on this year’s team and support Shaedon in any way. He was adamant on, “Hey, you come here and see what happens, then be part of the leadership group for 2022-2023.” So he was quite shocked, but very accommodating. I’m sure it wasn’t something they expected.

How much do you think Shaedon can help this current roster and how much can they help him?

I just think it’s putting a bunch of high-level players in the situation. A top kid like Shaedon is going to help them on the scout team, that’s what he is. He’s going to go against other guys with talent, I’m sure that’s going to help. Those players are at Kentucky for a reason. I think collectively, the competition level raises a little bit more. Everybody gets better by playing at a higher level. I think he’s just competing, going against better talent, which makes you better. That would be the obvious example.

What does Shaedon need to work on at the next level? How much better can he get in this situation?

He can improve in every aspect, to be honest with you. Now dealing with longer, stronger, more athletic, older guys is gonna allow him to make that transition much more quickly when he actually is every day, ready to play. It’s going to help him a lot, you know, doing it against guys who are that much more talented and more experienced. … I think it’s going to be great for him. I think the other guys are fine and locked in for their season, but for Shaedon, it’s going to be very good.

You have a strong relationship with John Calipari and have for years now. It’s my understanding he offered Shaedon based on your recommendation alone. How did that relationship and trust develop?

Because I did a great job with Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), I told him, “You won’t hear from me unless I have another kid that I think can help your program, now that I know what it’s about.” I said, “When I have one, I’ll call you.” I gave them a very clear assessment of Shai and it came to be right on point. So when I did call him, knowing how much he trusts me, and my assessment and evaluation and development, he just said, “Yeah there’s no reason to question you. He’s got a scholarship,” and that was it.

It was just a relationship that you build with people that know what they’re doing. So on both sides of the aisle, I know he knows what he’s doing. He knows that I can assess talent, develop and cultivate the talent. So it was really that simple. It’s like “Yeah, if you say he’s good, I’m not questioning it.” When he saw him, he was probably better than what I said, but I like to undersell. He’s getting better. It was earlier, so I knew where he would be, so I just wanted him to know because I told him I’d give them a call. I didn’t want it to be a surprise.

Not that he would go to the school, because that wasn’t a guarantee, but I let him know, “Hey, I have someone that can help your program.” Usually, if I call a coach, the smart ones, they pretty much lock in quickly. There are other coaches, “Who else is recruiting him? What scholarships does he have?” Well, he doesn’t have any. “Uh, what can he do?” Then I stop calling people. You just like dealing with people who know what they know and they’re not trying to get confirmation from people they’re trying to compete with.

Just how excited are you for Shaedon to take this next step in his career?

I’m happy for him, but because I’ve already been through it, I’m not, like, excited. I’m happy for him and happy for his family, but because there’s so much more work and I’ve already been through the process and have people already at different stages ahead. It’s just like graduating, just like you’d be happy for your child when they go from eighth grade to ninth grade, right? Or from 12th grade to college or university. So that’s what it is.

You don’t feel like, “Hey, you made it,” because his end goal isn’t to be in the NBA. His goal is to try to be the best he can be, which is greater than that, right? He’s trying to be a Hall of Fame guy. Because there are so many goals ahead, it’s just like, it just feels like the satisfaction of accomplishment. “Okay, we made it to the next step, so what’s next?”

… The goal for him is so high, it’s almost like you enjoy the time in its current stage and move on right away about what’s next. There’s still so much work to do.

Why should Kentucky fans be excited for Shaedon’s addition, regardless of when he plays?

I think they should be thrilled because he represents what true Kentucky fans are, guys that kind of give everything. They’re passionate and they’re going to do whatever they can to represent the Kentucky fanbase, Lexington, and the greater state of Kentucky. He’s going to go out there and represent as the fans would if they were capable and able. So it’s almost like yourself out there, you know, giving 100% for the franchise you follow and you love. They can be excited because he will embody a passion on the court in terms of really caring about each possession and trying to win and trying to succeed. They can see themselves in him, so I think that’s why they should be excited.

He’s definitely connected to what it means to be a Wildcat.