The Portland Trail Blazers have selected Canadian Shaedon Sharpe seventh overall in Thursday's NBA Draft.
The six-foot-five swingman from London, Ont., was considered the draft's mystery man, having not played competitive basketball in more than a year.
Sharpe registered at Kentucky for the second semester of the 2021-22 year, but did not play.
He was the No. 1 high school player in his class after putting up 22.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 12 EYBL club games.
Sharpe also has national team experience, helping Canada win silver at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship.
“I see myself being one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball, just getting after it and competing,” he told Sportsnet's Michael Grange before the draft. “One of my goals is to win Rookie of the Year and also all-star and later on Hall of Fame.”
Sharpe was the second Canadian selected in the draft, one pick after Montreal-native Bennedict Mathurin went to the Indiana Pacers. It marks the first time since 2014 that two Canadiens were selected in the top 10 of the draft.
