Being the leading rebounder and putting up the second most points on the

team per game Stephon Sharp, senior, is receiving less looks as an upperclassman than other sophomores and juniors on the team.

“I try not to think about it, I just try to go out and play every game and do what I can do to the best of my abilities,” Sharp said.

Sharp has been in communication with University of Denver and Cornell University but nothing is set in stone.

“They said they will keep in touch and see how the rest of the season goes,” Sharp said.

Sharp has stepped up this season, and his statistics demonstrate that. He’s averaging 16.9 points per game and leads the team in rebounds.

“He’s not underrated by me. He’s a very vital member of our team, he leads us in rebounding by a lot, one of the highest scorers we have; he’s really central to what we do,” said Mr. Ken Novak, head coach and social studies.

Teammate Treyvon Edwards, senior, also feels Sharp is a key player for the team.

“Stephon does all the dirty work, and is very efficient. He gets the work done when it’s needed.”

One reason recruiters underrate Sharp may be because of his injuries the past few years.

“When I hurt my knee I’ve never been as explosive as I was before, in terms of jumping, but I’ve learned to play through that and I’ve adapted,” Sharp said.

Novak feels that because HHS is well known for their basketball talents, the whole team has been viewed differently this year.

“If there’s a state-wide assessment our kids have a tendency to not be given the credit they deserve, our whole team doesn’t get the credit they could be given. But I don’t worry about what everyone else thinks, everyone says, I worry about what we do and what we improve” Novak said.

Novak feels recruiting isn’t the same as it use to be, and the new process could be affecting Sharp.

“Most college coaches lately have been laying low and recruiting later. That’s different than before,” Novak said.

Edwards feels that Sharp deserves more college attention.

“He’s very underrated, he should have way more offers than what he has. It could be his height that causes it, he’s kind of a tweener. Also college coaches probably don’t see him shooting the ball too much, so that’s it,” Edwards said.

Sharp’s dad, Darryl Sharp, is the Associate Head Coach at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. Stephon has mixed feelings at the opportunity to play for his dad.

“I’d consider it, i don’t know it’d kind of be tough because he’s a tough coach, but if it happens it happens. It would ruin our relationship a little bit, but it is what it is,” Sharp said.