UNC Basketball: Day’Ron Sharpe climbs NBA Draft big board
By Zack Pearson
While the UNC Basketball team continues to flirt with being on the bubble and in the field of 68 for the NCAA Tournament, these next few weeks will be big for the team and some players.
After beating Louisville handedly at home last Saturday, the Tar heels fell short against Marquette in a game they certainly want to have back. However, even with the struggles that they have had over the past month or so, one player continues to develop his game.
Freshman Day’Ron Sharpe isn’t a starter for the Tar Heels in his first season but the North Carolina native is quickly becoming the best player on the floor. Sharpe is averaging 10.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 53.4 percent from the field.
Early on, you could tell that Sharpe was going to be a good player despite being behind senior Garrison Brooks and sophomore Armando Bacot in the rotation. While he’s still behind the two, Sharpe has seen his game develop more and NBA scouts could potentially be watching as he does.
With the calendar flipping to March next week, 247 Sports released their big board for the 2021 NBA Draft updated with the top prospects. Sharpe was among a big mover on the board, climbing six spots from No. 29 to No. 23 on the big board.
He’s the only UNC player ranked in the Top 30 on 247 Sports, big board and could be the only one that leaves early for the NBA Draft. The month of March will not only tell us a lot about this UNC team but potentially the future of the program in terms of returning players too.
Sharpe would be wise to at least test the draft waters and receive some feedback as it would also allow him to return for a second season in Chapel Hill. He also could use that second season to improve his stock and find the Top 10 come the 2022 NBA Draft.
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