CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois men’s basketball coach Bryan Mullins announced Monday that the program has signed 6-foot-3 freshman Sheridan Sharp to a financial aid agreement. The guard will join the Saluki backcourt for the 2023-24 season.

“Saluki Nation is going to love Sheridan. He is someone who has continued to get better every single year because of his work ethic and mindset,” Mullins said. “He has a great presence about himself and plays with great energy and toughness when he is on the court. He comes from a tremendous high school program where he helped lead them to an undefeated state championship season this year. He is a two-way player that impacts winning in so many ways.”

The Indianapolis native was one of 13 players in the state to be named an Indiana All-Star – one of the most prestigious awards in Indiana high school basketball. Sharp was also named All-MIC, First Team Marion County, and a Hoosier All-Star.

Starting in 33 games his senior season, Sharp led No. 1 Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis to a 33-0 record and an Indiana 4A State Championship. The 33 wins are the most by any Indiana high school in state history. Sharp was dominant throughout the season averaging 9.8 points, six assists, and 3.1 rebounds at point guard, including a 31-point game in a win over Bloomington North in the semistate semifinal.

He led the Giants with 198 assists, posting a 2.51 assist-to-turnover margin. Sharp’s six assists per game ranked eighth in the IHSAA to close the season. Over his career at Ben Davis High School, the guard posted 331 assists for the Giants which ranks first in school history.

A strong defender, he anchored a defense that held opponents to under 48 points per game his senior season while leading the team with 2.2 steals per game.

 

This press release originally featured on siusalukis.com