UNC Basketball: Day’Ron Sharpe drafted by Suns, traded to Nets

The former UNC basketball standout was drafted by the Phoenix Suns, but will begin his career in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets.

The wait is finally over!

“With the 29th pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns select… Day’Ron Sharpe, Forward from the University of North Carolina.”

Although the Phoenix Suns made the official selection, the draft rights to Sharpe will be dealt to the Brooklyn Nets. The pick was reportedly involved in a previously announced trade that sent Landry Shamet to Phoenix.

Without a doubt, Day’ron Sharpe is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft class. His story up to this point is a rather interesting one to say the least.

The former five-star recruit joined forces with Roy Williams at the University of North Carolina, and right away, expectations were high. With a front court that featured veterans Garrison Brooks and Armando Bacot, as well as fellow incoming five-star recruit Walker Kessler, no one doubted that the Tar Heels would be a force to be reckoned with down low.

However, given the team’s overall depth, playing time was spread out among the talented bigs, which impacted Sharpe’s time on the court. Although he wasn’t a full-time starter, Sharpe was impressive off the bench in his limited minutes.

Averaging just over 19 minutes per-contest, Sharpe put up 9.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per-game. His high energy and motor stood out, as he showcased the ability to not only keep up but thrive in Williams’ fast-paced offense. Rebounding was also a major asset of Sharpe’s game, as his tenacity and toughness helped him haul in rebounds on both ends of the floor.

After the season, in which the Tar Heels most certainly underperformed, Sharpe had a decision to make. Based on reports, this one was easy: Sharpe was ready to take on the NBA.

No one ever doubted that the big man possesses a ton of talent, but given his game and the current state of the NBA, it was unclear as to how teams would view him in regards to his future potential.

Leading up to the NBA Draft, mock drafts have Sharpe scattered everywhere. Some analysts viewed Sharpe as a player who could be selected near the end of the lottery, while others thought that the former Tar Heel would slide into the second round of the draft.

With so much uncertainty, it was expected that Sharpe would use the NBA Draft Combine to help showcase his skills.

However, Sharpe had other plans.

In a surprising move, Sharpe withdrew from the combine, as he instead focused on his own individual workouts. He took on a new diet and worked on improving his shooting range, two factors that seem to have helped his stock drastically increase.

According to Brendan Marks of The Athletic, Sharpe was down to 258, over 20 pounds lighter than his weight during his time in Chapel Hill. The big man also worked on his shooting stroke, as he made some adjustments to help him release the ball quicker and more efficiently.

In the recent days and weeks leading up to the draft, Sharpe’s work has definitely been noticed. Analysts and former players have been active on social media discussing Sharpe and his overall potential:

After a much-anticipated wait, we now officially know where Day’Ron Sharpe will begin his professional career. The Nets are obviously in “win-now” mode, as their Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving look to stay healthy and make a strong push through the Eastern Conference.

With Brooklyn in need of depth down low, Sharpe has the opportunity to make an impact right away. His unique skillset should compliment the Nets core nicely, as his energy should be a major boost for Steve Nash’s squad.

For the third straight year, the UNC basketball program has had a player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Over the last five drafts, the Tar Heels have had a lot of draft success, as seven of their alumni have gone on to first round selections.

The Keeping It Heel team wishes Day’Ron Sharpe the best of luck as he begins his professional career with the Brooklyn Nets!

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates surrounding Day’Ron Sharpe and the entire UNC basketball program.