Elizabeth City’s Sharpless Sees Draft Stock Rise

Angelo Sharpless has a legitimate shot at being selected in Thursday’s NBA Draft. (Daily Advance Photo)

It’s been nearly a decade since a player from a CIAA team heard his name called at the NBA Draft, but it looks like that drought could soon be over. Just two days before the NBA Draft in Brooklyn, NY the name of Elizabeth City State guard Angelo Sharpless is buzzing in scouting reports and mock drafts.

ESPN.com’s Chad Forde has Sharpless going 55th overall to the Memphis Grizzlies in his most recent mock draft.

Chad Ford’s mock draft has our very own @AngeloSharpless going in the second round in Thursday’s NBA Draft #salute http://t.co/BA8hUBmWRI
— ECSU Athletics (@ECSUVikings) June 25, 2013

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Angelo Sharpless with a highlight reverse dunk and a three quarter court buzzer beater. Representing D2 well!
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) May 22, 2013

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Sharpless has been building momentum for quite a while now. It started with “The Dunk” last summer at the Ben Wallace Pro-Am. Then the 6’4 Plymouth, NC native averaged over 20 points and 8 rebounds per game as a senior en route to being selected CIAA Player of The Year. He then went on a barnstorming tour with the ACC All-Stars where he routinely dunked over Duke forward Miles Plumlee as if he were a JV player.

Sharpless has worked out for the New York Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats, Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, L.A. Clippers, Phoenix Suns and the Indiana Pacers. 

Check out what the folks at AllMediaNY.com have to say about the explosive swingman.

What stands out the most about Sharpless are his athleticism and ability to jump out of the gym, as his dunk at the Ben Wallace Pro-Am [see video below] garnered national attention when he appeared on SportsCenter’s “Top 10” on ESPN.

Should Sharpless be selected in Thursday’s draft, he would be the first CIAA player selected in the draft since North Carolina Central’s David Young was selected 42nd overall in the 2004 NBA Draft. Still, Sharpless told the Washington Daily News he may not even watch the draft.

“I’m just going to enjoy my time and hopefully my named will get called,” he said. “If not, hopefully somebody will bring me in for a tryout. I’d be happy just with that,” Sharpless said. “My agent said he has stuff lined up overseas just in case, but everybody wants to play in the NBA.”