Stephon Sharp, a 6-5, 205-pound forward from South Kent (CT) School, has committed to Minnesota as a preferred walk-on.
Originally from Hopkins, Sharp averaged 13.8 points per game as he helped lead the Royals to 30-2 record as a senior last year as they finished runner-up in the Class AAAA Tournament, losing to Lakeville North 84-82 in the title game.
Gopher Hole.com caught up with Sharp Monday night to learn the latest on his decision.
Gopher Hole: You committed to Minnesota as a preferred walk-on. What was the main reason for your decision?
Stephon Sharp: I felt really comfortable with the program and obviously wanted to be close to home and it felt like a good fit for both sides and it really worked out.
Gopher Hole: What other schools were you considering?
Stephon Sharp: I was considering Hampton University, where my dad is an assistant coach and considering Hofstra as well as a walk-on spot at Wisconsin.
Gopher Hole: Did you have any scholarship offers at the time of your decision?
Stephon Sharp: I had a Hampton offer and I was talking with Hofstra pretty frequently.
Gopher Hole: You spent the season at South Kent, which is one of the better prep schools. How much do you think that has helped you as a player?
Stephon Sharp: It helped me a lot playing against better competition each and every game. There wasn’t really a game that you could just slack off and I played a lot more on the wing. In high school, I played more as a combo forward, but I have really improved my guard skills.
Gopher Hole: How much do you think you have improved as a player?
Stephon Sharp: I think that I have improved a lot since I was a senior in high school. I have worked on my jump shot a lot, which has helped and I just continue to work on ball skills, conditioning and strength.
Gopher Hole: Do you think that you are much more ready than if you had just gone right from Hopkins to college? Do you think that extra year is going to help as a player and a student on and off the court?
Stephon Sharp: Yeah, for sure. I feel like this year definitely prepared more, just from a standpoint of being away from home and taking more accountability with what I am doing every day academically and basketball-wise.
Gopher Hole: I know that you are a good student with a 3.6 or 3.7 GPA. Have you thought much about what you would like to major in?
Stephon Sharp: Right now, I am majoring in Sports Management, but I am thinking about becoming a Business major.
Gopher Hole: What have the Gophers told you about opportunities for you as a freshman next year?
Stephon Sharp: They have just been telling me the same stuff that they have been telling all the other freshmen, that they are going to treat me just the same as any scholarship player and that they want to come in with the intent to compete and hopefully play. They don’t want me to just come in and just be content. They want me to work hard and compete every day.
Gopher Hole: How long had you been hearing from the Gophers?
Stephon Sharp: For a couple of weeks now. They had expressed interest earlier on, but during the season, things got hectic and they kind of died off, but things picked up once the season ended.
Gopher Hole: Had you had a chance to visit with the Gophers at Minnesota lately?
Stephon Sharp: I visited last week. I was there Monday and Thursday and I got a chance to meet with Coach Pitino and the other coaches as well and it was great experience.
Gopher Hole: What were your impressions of the Gophers this year? They didn’t have quite the season they were hoping to, due to some injuries and close losses. Did you get a chance to watch them much at all?
Stephon Sharp: I got to see them play a few times and they seemed like they were progressing throughout the year with a lot of new guys and Coach is still trying to implement his system. He said that he is expecting a much better year, which is good.
Gopher Hole: Do you know many of the guys on the team. They don’t have a ton of Minnesota kids, but they have Jarvis Johnson, who you played AAU with and against. Joey King and Reggie Lynch, who you played with and against at Edina? Do you know them very well?
Stephon Sharp: Yes. I know them pretty well and I got a chance to meet Ahmad Gilbert as well. He was on his official visit when I went over there. He was just finishing up when I walked into the office, so it was good to meet him.
Gopher Hole: You talked about your family and friends being able to watch you next year. How important will that be, especially having been away from home when they couldn’t watch you this past year?
Stephon Sharp: It was a huge factor in me deciding to come back home to the “U.” It means a lot and it helps put things in perspective for me and that is a huge importance in my life.
Gopher Hole: All freshmen have to earn their playing time. What are your goals for next year to get yourself on the court?
Stephon Sharp: Just to come in and work and try to contribute in any way that the coaching staff asks me to and have a positive attitude and work hard the entire season.