The Portland Trail Blazers selected Canadian Shaedon Sharpe with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
The 18-year-old was a shock entry into this year's draft after he went through early enrollment at Kentucky, living on campus while taking classes and practicing with the basketball team a year ahead of schedule. Sharpe was cleared to suit up for the Wildcats this season but never played a game for the famed college team.
With the 7th pick of the @NBADraft, the @trailblazers select @ShaedonSharpe!
— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2022
2022 #NBADraft presented by State Farm on ESPN & ABC pic.twitter.com/k2TtDMisGP
He elected to enter the draft instead, having spent the requisite minimum one season at college or being one season removed.
MORE: NBA draft grades
Under the NBA's rules, entrants in the draft must be at least 19 years old and one year removed from high school from the start of their first NBA season.
Sharpe turned 19 on May 30th and will be a year removed from high school by the start of the 2022-23 season making him eligible for the draft.
Sharpe hasn't played high-level organized ball outside of high school and AAU but he possesses a strong skill set that a franchise like the Blazers can nurture.
Sharpe's selection followed the Pacers' selection at No. 6 of Bennedict Mathurin, making this the third draft in which multiple Canadians were selected in the lottery following 2013 (Anthony Bennett and Kelly Olynk) and 2014 (Andrew Wiggins, Nic Stauskas).
It's also the first time in history that two Canadians were selected in the top seven picks.
