{{short description|American basketball player (born 2001)}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Jamarion Sharp | image = Jamarion Sharp.jpg | image_size = | caption = Sharp with Western Kentucky in 2022 | position = Center | height_ft = 7 | height_in = 5 | weight_lbs = 235 | league = NBA G League | team = Texas Legends | number = 33 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|8|26}} | birth_place = Hopkinsville, Kentucky, U.S. | high_school = Hopkinsville<br>(Hopkinsville, Kentucky) | college = * John A. Logan (2019–2021) * Western Kentucky (2021–2023) * Ole Miss (2023–2024) | draft_year = 2024 | career_start = 2024 | years1 = 2024–present | team1 = Texas Legends | years2 = 2026 | team2 = Vaqueros de Bayamón | highlights = *NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year (2026) *NBA G League All Defensive Team (2026) *NBA G League blocks leader (2026) * 2× NCAA blocks leader (2022, 2023) * 2× Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023) * 2× All-GRAC (2020, 2021) }} '''Jamarion Demontrez Sharp'''<ref name="WAPT">{{cite news|title=Ole Miss basketball player accused of firing shots while vehicle being repossessed|url=https://www.wapt.com/article/ole-miss-basketball-player-jamarion-sharp-accused-of-firing-shots-while-vehicle-being-repossessed/60638356|work=WAPT|date=April 29, 2024|access-date=July 5, 2024}}</ref> (born August 26, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League.<ref>https://gleague.nba.com/news/jamarion-sharp-named-2025-26-kia-nba-g-league-defensive-player-of-the-year</ref> He played college basketball for John A. Logan College, Western Kentucky, and Ole Miss. At {{height|ft=7|in=5}}, he was one of the tallest Division I players ever and is one of the tallest living humans.
==Early life== Sharp was born on August 26, 2001, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sharpja01.html|title=Jamarion Sharp|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=October 19, 2024}}</ref> His father, Mario Sharp, was {{height|ft=6|in=9}} and his mother, Shiby Watkins, was {{height|ft=6|in=5}}.<ref name="who">{{cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2021/11/03/western-kentucky-university-jamarion-sharp-tallest-player-di-basketball/8530327002/|title=Who's the tallest player in Division I basketball? This 7-foot-5 Kentucky native|work=The Courier-Journal|first=Dominique|last=Yates|date=November 3, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> He admits that "growing up, [he] didn’t love the game of basketball".<ref name="trip">{{cite news|url=https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/sharp-records-third-triple-double-in-hilltopper-program-history/article_6bc06492-db5d-534c-96eb-9cc59699dc0f.html|title=Sharp records third triple-double in Hilltopper program history|work=Bowling Green Daily News|first=Jared|last=MacDonald|date=November 24, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> Sharp's future high school coach, Tim Haworth, who knew him since he was five years old, encouraged him to play.<ref name=trip/>
{{quote box|width=30em|bgcolor=#F2F2F2|align=left|quote=It really means a lot because growing up, I didn’t love the game of basketball, but Haworth, he made me keep getting in the gym more and more and made me start to love the game.|source= — Sharp explaining the influence his high school coach, Tim Haworth, had on him growing up.<ref name=trip/>}}
Sharp had a growth spurt the summer after middle school and came into Hopkinsville High School as a {{height|ft=6|in=6}} freshman.<ref name="kentucky">{{cite news|url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mark-story/article256653242.html|title=The most intriguing college basketball player in Kentucky is 7-5 — and still growing?|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|first=Mark|last=Story|date=December 17, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> He grew to {{height|ft=6|in=8}} by his junior year and became a seven-footer as a senior.<ref name=kentucky/> He played basketball for the Tigers, where he appeared in the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen state tournament as a sophomore.<ref name=kentucky/> As a junior, he averaged a modest 2.9 points and three rebounds per game.<ref name=trip/> As a senior, he averaged 7.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, leading the Tigers to a 16–14 record and an 8th district semifinals appearance. He earned all-district honors and was selected to represent Team Kentucky in the 2019 Kentucky-Indiana All-Star game.<ref name=who/>
Western Kentucky head coach Rick Stansbury noticed Sharp, then a junior, in February 2018 while scouting another player.<ref name=trip/> He caught Stansbury's attention during pre-game warm-ups but did not play in the first half.<ref name=trip/> After Stansbury inquired about "the big kid", Haworth worked Sharp out in front of him at halftime by having him shoot jump hooks.<ref name=kentucky/> Sharp was offered a scholarship "basically that night".<ref name=trip/> However, he did not meet the academic requirements to attend Western Kentucky, his dream school, out of high school.<ref name=who/><ref name=trip/> On April 23, 2019, Sharp committed to John A. Logan College, a junior college in Carterville, Illinois.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.carbondaletimes.com/sports/20190423/sharp-commits-to-jalc|title=Sharp commits to JALC|work=Carbondale Times|first=Spyder|last=Dann|date=April 23, 2019|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref>
==College career== ===John A. Logan=== As a freshman for the John A. Logan Volunteers, Sharp was listed at {{height|ft=7|in=2}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loganvols.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/sharp_jamarion_qq77|title=Jamarion Sharp|publisher=John A. Logan Volunteers|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref> He averaged 5.5 points, five rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game in his first year, earning All-Great Rivers Athletic Conference (GRAC) honors.<ref name="wku">{{cite news|url=https://wkusports.com/news/2020/11/23/mens-basketball-stansbury-announces-signing-of-nations-top-juco-player-jamarion-sharp.aspx|title=Stansbury Announces Signing of Nation's Top JUCO Player Jamarion Sharp|publisher=Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Athletics|date=November 23, 2020|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> While teaming with Jay Scrubb, they led the Volunteers to a 28–5 record and finished undefeated in conference play for the first time in school history.<ref name=wku/> On January 28, 2021, Sharp recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks in a double-overtime victory over Three Rivers.<ref name="southern">{{cite news|url=https://thesouthern.com/sports/juco-mens-basketball-logans-sharp-uses-7-3-height-to-dominate/article_f6d22443-e58e-5411-b3b9-623daba89b23.html|title=Logan's Sharp uses 7-3 height to dominate|work=The Southern Illinoisan|first=Braden|last=Fogal|date=April 6, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> He recorded two triple-doubles in February against Kaskaskia College and Southwestern Illinois, including a season-high 12 blocks in the latter.<ref name=southern/> As a sophomore, Sharp averaged 7.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 blocks per game,<ref name=trip/> earning All-GRAC and all-region honors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.freedom929.com/2021/07/13/mens-juco-basketball-all-grac-and-all-region-selections-occ/|title=Men's JUCO Basketball: All-GRAC and All-Region Selections / OCC Players|work=Freedom929.com|first=Mark|last=Weiler|date=July 13, 2021|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>
Sharp was rated a four-star prospect and the top JUCO recruit in the nation by 247Sports.<ref name=who/> He received offers from programs such as Arizona, Cincinnati and Oregon,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/basketball/pascoe/arizona-wildcats-offer-scholarship-to-7-2-juco-center-jamarion-sharp/article_7ee5fe70-de7f-11ea-ba4b-3f16cbe41566.html|title=Arizona Wildcats offer scholarship to 7-2 juco center Jamarion Sharp|work=Arizona Daily Star|first=Bruce|last=Pascoe|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=January 11, 2022}}{{subscription required}}</ref> but committed to Western Kentucky on November 23, 2020.<ref name=wku/>
===Western Kentucky=== By the time Sharp arrived at Western Kentucky for the 2021–22 season, he had grown to {{height|ft=7|in=5}}.<ref name=who/> In his first game as a Hilltopper, an exhibition against Campbellsville, he recorded 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in 17 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2021/11/04/jamarion-sharp-who-tallest-player-college-basketball/6283084001/|title=What to know about Western Kentucky basketball big man Jamarion Sharp|work=The Courier-Journal|first=Dominique|last=Yates|date=November 4, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> Sharp said of the experience that it was "amazing to play for [his] dream school."<ref name=trip/> On November 24 he earned his first start in a 88–62 victory against Alabama A&M after Jaylen Butz was sidelined with knee soreness.<ref name=trip/> In just his fifth game, he contributed 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocks, recording the third triple-double in program history and setting the program single-game blocks record.<ref name=trip/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://wkuherald.com/62591/sports/sharp-sets-single-game-record-for-blocks-records-third-program-triple-double-against-alabama-am/|title=Sharp sets single-game record for blocks, records third program triple-double against Alabama A&M|work=College Heights Herald|first=Kaden|last=Gaylord-Day|date=November 24, 2021|access-date=January 12, 2021}}</ref> On December 4, he recorded 17 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in a 85–80 victory over in-state rivals Eastern Kentucky.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/shorthanded-tops-take-down-eku/article_ca8648d6-5cc3-5a1f-90e2-f687b1fa2fbf.html|title=Shorthanded Tops take down EKU|work=Bowling Green Daily News|first=Jared|last=MacDonald|date=December 4, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> On December 11, he recorded 16 points, nine rebounds and six blocks in a 71–48 victory over Ole Miss at the Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/wku-beats-ole-miss-in-atlanta-with-hearts-back-in-bg/article_0d2e5cf0-6343-5dd3-90f3-c6b7731a813f.html|title=WKU beats Ole Miss in Atlanta with hearts back in BG|work=Bowling Green Daily News|first=Jared|last=MacDonald|date=December 11, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> On December 18, he had 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in their 82–72 win over Louisville – the Hilltoppers' first win over the Cardinals since 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/sharp-provides-wku-with-strong-presence-in-win-over-louisville/article_e5886c81-9693-5c47-8e5a-4aecfda2eddf.html|title=Sharp provides WKU with strong presence in win over Louisville|work=Bowling Green Daily News|first=Michael|last=Compton|date=December 18, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> In their next game against Kentucky, he recorded eight points, six rebounds and seven blocks in the first half before exiting the game with an ankle sprain.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/7-foot-5-wku-center-101657907.html|title=7-foot-5 WKU center Jamarion Sharp posts 7 first-half blocks against Kentucky before injury|work=The Courier-Journal|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|first=Hayes|last=Gardner|date=December 23, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref>
Sharp finished the season with averages of 8.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and a nation-leading 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 72.7 percent from the field.<ref name="WKU">{{cite news|url=https://wkusports.com/news/2022/3/24/mens-basketball-sharp-selected-as-lefty-driesell-defensive-player-of-the-year-award-finalist.aspx|title=Sharp Selected as Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Award Finalist|publisher=Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Athletics|date=March 24, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}}</ref> His 148 blocks set a new single-season program record, surpassing Chris Marcus's 97 blocks in 2000–01.<ref name=WKU/> Sharp was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and an honorable mention all-conference selection.<ref name=CUSAAwards>{{cite press release|url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2022/3/7/mens-basketball-mbb-c-usa-postseason-awards-announced.aspx|title=C-USA Postseason Awards Announced|publisher=Conference USA |date=March 7, 2022 |accessdate=March 7, 2022}}</ref> He was a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/sharp-selected-as-naismith-defensive-player-of-the-year-semifinalist/article_8962ed1a-4b21-52ca-b39e-bdce5d7eff43.html|title=Sharp selected as Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist|work=Bowling Green Daily News|date=March 1, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2022}}</ref> as well as a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Award.<ref name=WKU/>
==Professional career==
===Texas Legends (2024–2025)=== After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, Sharp joined the Dallas Mavericks for the 2024 NBA Summer League<ref>{{cite web|first=Doyle|last=Rader|title=Dallas Mavericks announce Summer League roster and schedule|url=https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2024/7/4/24192044/dallas-mavericks-summer-league-roster-schedule-2024|website=MavsMoneyBall.com|date=July 4, 2024|access-date=August 3, 2024}}</ref> and on August 3, 2024, he signed with the team.<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Dallas Mavericks|title=Welcome to the fam, @Jaammaarion 🤝 @Chime // #MFFL|number=1819735410211278917|user=dallasmavs|date=August 3, 2024|access-date=August 3, 2024}}</ref> However, he was waived on October 18<ref>{{cite web|first=Doyle|last=Rader|title=Dallas Mavericks Waive AJ Lawson, Emanuel Miller And Jamarion Sharp|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/doylerader/2024/10/18/dallas-mavericks-waive-aj-lawson-emanuel-miller-and-jamarion-sharp/|website=Forbes.com|date=October 18, 2024|access-date=October 19, 2024}}</ref> and on October 26, he joined the Texas Legends.<ref>{{cite web|title=Texas Legends Finalize 2024-25 Training Camp Roster Following NBA G League Draft|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/texas-legends-finalize-2024-25-training-camp-roster-following-nba-g-league-draft/n-6159950|website=OurSportsCentral.com|date=October 26, 2024|access-date=October 26, 2024}}</ref> He played 29 games in the 2024–25 season, averaging 6.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.<ref name="swing">{{cite news|url=https://cdispatch.com/sports/sharp-excited-about-second-swing-through-nba-summer-league/|title=Sharp excited about second swing through NBA Summer League|work=The Commercial Dispatch|first=Stephen|last=Hunt|date=July 12, 2025|access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref>
=== Return to the Texas Legends (2025–2026)===
Sharp joined the Mavericks again for the 2025 NBA Summer League.<ref name=swing/> On October 18, 2025, he was waived by the Mavericks after signing an Exhibit 10 contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/10/mavs-sign-cross-sharp-smith.html|title=Mavs sign, waive Sharp|work=HoopsRumors.com|date=October 18, 2025}}</ref> On March 20, 2026, Sharp had 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 blocks on a 110–103 loss to the Iowa Wolves. On April 2, 2026, Sharp won the Defensive Player of the Year for the 2025–2026 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jamarion Sharp Named 2025-26 Kia NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year |url=https://gleague.nba.com/news/jamarion-sharp-named-2025-26-kia-nba-g-league-defensive-player-of-the-year|website=NBA.com|date=April 3, 2026|access-date=April 3, 2026}}</ref>
===Vaqueros de Bayamón (2026–present)===
On April 1, 2026, Sharp signed with the reigning champions Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jamarion Sharp signs with Bayamón |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DWnAGMSEY1w/|website=Catch&ShootPR|date=April 6, 2026|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> In his debut, he made history by becoming the tallest player to play in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional, taking the title from former NBA player Peter John Ramos (7’4”).
==Career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend}}
===College=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 | style="text-align:left;"| John A. Logan | '''33''' || 13 || – || .641 || .000 || .380 || 5.0 || .2 || .3 || 3.7 || 5.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 | style="text-align:left;"| John A. Logan | 24 || 16 || – || .559 || '''.500''' || '''.582''' || 7.3 || '''.7''' || .2 || '''5.8''' || 7.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 | style="text-align:left;"| Western Kentucky | 32 || 28 || 28.0 || '''.726''' || .000 || .397 || 7.6 || .3 || .8 || 4.6 || '''8.2''' |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 | style="text-align:left;"| Western Kentucky | 32 || '''32''' || '''28.5''' || .628 || .000 || .500 || '''7.7''' || .2 || '''1.0''' || 4.1 || 7.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 | style="text-align:left;"| Ole Miss | 31 || 15 || 15.8 || .594 || .000 || .526 || 4.1 || .6 || .6 || '''2.4''' || 3.3 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 152 || 104 || 24.2 || .630 || .125 || .477 || 6.5 || .4 || .5 || 4.1 || 6.4 {{S-end}}
==Personal life== In April 2024, Sharp was charged with aggravated assault for firing a gun while a vehicle was being repossessed. No one was injured in the incident. Sharp was taken into custody and was given a $100,000 bond by a municipal court judge.<ref name=WAPT/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://wkusports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jamarion-sharp/3991 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers bio] *[https://www.loganvols.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/bios/sharp_jamarion_3yb0 John A. Logan Volunteers bio]
{{Texas Legends current roster}} {{NCAA Division I men's basketball blocks champion}} {{NBA G League Defensive Players of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharp, Jamarion}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball players from Kentucky Category:Centers (basketball) Category:John A. Logan Volunteers men's basketball players Category:Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball players Category:Sportspeople from Hopkinsville, Kentucky Category:Texas Legends players Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball players