LEXINGTON, Ky. — Shaedon Sharpe was the first former Kentucky player to be chosen in Thursday night’s NBA draft when the Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the seventh overall pick.
The former No. 1-ranked basketball recruit joined UK at midseason but never suited up for the team. He had intended to play for Kentucky this fall, but had to alter those plans when draft feedback indicated he would be an early first-round pick.
The first five picks of the draft were Duke’s Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), Auburn’s Jabari Smith (Houston Rockets), Iowa’s Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings) and Purdue’s Jaden Ivey (Detroit Pistons).
