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Day’Ron Sharpe, the Tar Heels’ lone commit thus far for the 2020 cycle, recently announced that he will be transferring to Montverde Academy, a prep school in Orlando, Florida, for his senior year of high school. He spent the last three years attending South Central High School in Winterville, North Carolina.
Sharpe committed to Carolina back in June of last year. At the time, he sat at #70 in the 247 sports composite rankings, a four-star recruit with little hope of adding that fifth star. Physically, he stood at 6’8 and weighed around 220 pounds.
Since his commitment, Sharpe has added a great deal to both his size and his overall game. After a mini-growth spurt and some work in the weight room, he now stands at 6’10, 246 pounds. Moreover, Sharpe has seemingly improved with every game he’s played, and scouts have taken notice. He’s now #22 in the composite rankings, 48 spots up from where he was previously, and is considered a five-star by most outlets.
The decision by Sharpe to transfer should come as no surprise. It has become increasingly popular for the top high school players to enroll in prestigious prep schools that can offer a higher level of competition on the court. Montverde Academy is definitely that. RJ Barrett, D’Angelo Russell, and Joel Embiid are just a few of the many notable alumni for a school that has become a hotbed for future NBA talent.
As a junior this past season, Sharpe averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds, helping South Central to a 30-1 record and the 2018-19 NCHSAA Class 4A state title. He’s also been very impressive on the summer AAU circuit as a member of the Garner Road Basketball Club.
At Montverde, Sharpe will team up with top-ranked combo guard Cade Cunningham and top-40 shooting guard Moses Moody. His move to a new school is something worth keeping an eye on as Sharpe is sure to receive more of the spotlight now that he’ll be playing alongside and against such high level players.