Jamarion Sharp Bio
Jamarion Demontrez Sharp, born on August 26, 2001, is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. Standing at 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m), he ranks among the tallest players ever to appear in NCAA Division I competition and is widely recognized as one of the tallest living humans. A center by trade, Sharp built his reputation as a defensive anchor through his shot-blocking ability, leading the nation in blocks during consecutive college seasons before turning professional.
Sharp developed his game across three collegiate stops, beginning at the junior college level, continuing at a Conference USA program, and finishing at a Southeastern Conference school. After going undrafted in 2024, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks and was later assigned to the Texas Legends, where he has continued to refine his role as a rim protector.
Early Life and Background
Jamarion Demontrez Sharp was born on August 26, 2001, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He was raised in a notably tall family; his father, Mario Sharp, stood 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), and his mother, Shiby Watkins, stood 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m). Sharp has admitted that he did not initially love the game of basketball while growing up, preferring to spend his time in other ways. His perspective changed largely because of Tim Haworth, his future high school coach, who had known Sharp since he was five years old and consistently encouraged him to keep getting in the gym.
Sharp attended Hopkinsville High School, where he played for the Tigers. He entered the school as a 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) freshman following a major growth spurt the summer after middle school, reached 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) by his junior year, and became a seven-footer during his senior season. As a sophomore, he helped the Tigers reach the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen state tournament, and as a senior, he averaged 7.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, leading the team to a 16–14 record and an eighth district semifinals appearance. He earned all-district honors and represented Team Kentucky in the 2019 Kentucky-Indiana All-Star game.
Western Kentucky head coach Rick Stansbury first noticed Sharp in February 2018 while scouting another player, and after a brief halftime workout, offered him a scholarship that same night. Because Sharp did not meet the academic requirements to enroll at Western Kentucky directly out of high school, he committed on April 23, 2019, to John A. Logan College, a junior college program in Carterville, Illinois, as a pathway to his dream school.
Path to Basketball
As a freshman for the John A. Logan Volunteers, Sharp was listed at 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) and averaged 5.5 points, five rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game, earning All-Great Rivers Athletic Conference (GRAC) honors. Teaming with Jay Scrubb, he helped lead the Volunteers to a 28–5 record and an undefeated conference campaign, the first in program history. On January 28, 2021, he produced a 20-point, 10-rebound, six-block performance in a double-overtime victory over Three Rivers, and during February he recorded two triple-doubles, including a season-high 12 blocks against Southwestern Illinois. As a sophomore, Sharp averaged 7.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.3 blocks per game, earning All-GRAC and all-region honors.
Rated a four-star prospect and the top junior college recruit in the nation by 247Sports, Sharp chose Western Kentucky over offers from Arizona, Cincinnati, and Oregon, committing on November 23, 2020. By the time he arrived on campus for the 2021–22 season, he had grown to his current listed height of 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m), setting the stage for his breakthrough as a Hilltopper.
Jamarion Sharp Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Sharp opened his collegiate career at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois, where he quickly developed into one of the most dominant defensive forces in junior college basketball. His combination of size, timing, and instincts helped him earn All-GRAC recognition in both of his seasons, and his work alongside a high-profile teammate elevated the program’s national profile.
His sophomore averages of 7.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.3 blocks per game showcased the rapid growth of his game and drew attention from high-major programs. Sharp’s performance during this period cemented his status as the top junior college recruit in the country and positioned him for a smooth transition to Division I competition.
Western Kentucky Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Sharp made an immediate impression at Western Kentucky, recording 14 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in 17 minutes during an exhibition against Campbellsville and earning his first start on November 24, 2021, in an 88–62 victory over Alabama A&M. In just his fifth game as a Hilltopper, he delivered 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocks, recording the third triple-double in program history and setting the Western Kentucky single-game blocks record. He followed with strong performances against Eastern Kentucky (17 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks), Ole Miss at the Holiday Hoopsgiving (16 points, nine rebounds, six blocks), and Louisville (14 points, eight rebounds, four blocks) in a win that ended a long drought against the Cardinals.
Sharp finished his first Western Kentucky season averaging 8.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and a nation-leading 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 72.7 percent from the field. His 148 total blocks set a new single-season program record, surpassing the previous mark set by Chris Marcus. He was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and an honorable mention all-conference selection, and he was recognized as a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award and a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Award.
Ole Miss Era (2023–2024)
Sharp transferred to Ole Miss for his final college season, continuing to develop his game against top-tier Southeastern Conference competition. His experience and rim protection provided a steady presence in the paint as he prepared for the next step in his career.
Following the 2023–24 season, Sharp declared for the 2024 NBA draft, where he ultimately went undrafted, opening the door to his professional opportunities.
Texas Legends Era (2024–Present)
After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, Sharp joined the Dallas Mavericks for the 2024 NBA Summer League and signed with the team on August 3, 2024. He was waived on October 18, 2024, and on October 26, 2024, he joined the Texas Legends, the Mavericks’ NBA G League affiliate. In 29 games during the 2024–25 season, he averaged 6.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game, continuing to anchor the defense at the professional level.
Sharp rejoined the Mavericks for the 2025 NBA Summer League before being waived on October 18, 2025, after signing an Exhibit 10 contract. On March 20, 2026, he recorded 18 points, 12 rebounds, and eight blocks in a 110–103 loss to the Iowa Wolves, and on April 2, 2026, he was named the NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year for the 2025–26 season. On April 1, 2026, he also signed with the reigning Baloncesto Superior Nacional champions Vaqueros de Bayamón, becoming the tallest player in BSN history.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sharp’s game is built around his extraordinary size, length, and shot-blocking instincts. He excels as a traditional back-line defender, using his 7 ft 5 in frame to alter shots, control the glass, and protect the rim. Offensively, he relies on high-percentage opportunities around the basket and has demonstrated efficient finishing at every level of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Sharp’s signature achievements are his 2021 triple-double with 10 blocks that set the Western Kentucky single-game record, his 148-block season that broke the program’s single-season mark, and his recognition as the NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year in 2026. He also made history with the Vaqueros de Bayamón as the tallest player ever to appear in a BSN game.
Jamarion Sharp Career Wins
Jamarion Demontrez Sharp’s résumé is defined less by traditional win totals and more by defensive dominance, including national and league-wide shot-blocking titles. He led the nation in blocks during the 2021–22 and 2022–23 NCAA seasons and was named the NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year in 2025–26.
NCAA Highlights
Sharp earned two NCAA blocks leader titles in 2022 and 2023 while at Western Kentucky, and was a two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in the same seasons. He was also a two-time All-GRAC selection in 2020 and 2021 during his time at John A. Logan College.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his individual awards, Sharp helped John A. Logan post a 28–5 record and an undefeated conference season, and he led Hopkinsville High School to a 16–14 record and a district semifinals appearance as a senior. In the NBA G League, he continued his defensive excellence with the Texas Legends, anchoring the paint on a nightly basis.
Jamarion Sharp Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Sharp comes from a tall athletic family. His father, Mario Sharp, stands 6 ft 9 in, and his mother, Shiby Watkins, stands 6 ft 5 in, providing the genetic foundation for his extraordinary size.
Personal Life
Public information about Sharp’s personal life centers on his upbringing in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and the influence of his longtime coach Tim Haworth, who helped him develop a love for the game. Additional details about marital status, spouse, or children have not been publicly verified.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was a transitional stretch for Jamarion Demontrez Sharp, beginning with his return to the Dallas Mavericks for the 2025 NBA Summer League. After being waived on October 18, 2025, following the signing of an Exhibit 10 contract, he shifted his full focus to the Texas Legends and continued to produce as one of the league’s premier interior defenders.
His midseason performance against the Iowa Wolves on March 20, 2026, with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and eight blocks, was a defining moment of the campaign and helped cement his case for end-of-season honors. Sharp was later named the NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year for 2025–26 and earned a place on the NBA G League All-Defensive Team, validating his growth as a professional.
Looking ahead, Sharp’s outlook centers on expanding his offensive game while maintaining his elite defensive presence. With the Texas Legends continuing to feature him as a focal point and an international stint with the Vaqueros de Bayamón adding new experience, his trajectory points toward a sustained role as a rim-protecting center in professional basketball.