UNC freshman Day’Ron Sharpe announced on Wednesday that he is entering the 2021 NBA Draft.

“I feel now that I am ready for the next level,” Sharpe said via social media. I’ve made it this far and there’s no reason for me to stop now!”

Players that enter the NBA Draft can choose to return to college so long as they do not hire an agent, but social media posts from Sharpe, UNC basketball, as well as a statement by Roy Williams seem to indicate this move to the professional ranks is permanent.

“Day’Ron is going to be a fantastic professional player,” said Williams. “I loved coaching him. He has a tremendously high motor. He’s naturally one of the greatest rebounders I’ve ever coached and a young man I just truly enjoyed.”

A former five-star recruit, Sharpe averaged 9.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in his lone season in Chapel Hill. He was named ACC Freshman of the Week after scoring 25 points and grabbing nine rebounds against Notre Dame on January 2. Sharpe’s 25 points against Notre Dame were the most by a UNC freshman post player since Tyler Hansbrough had 27 against Duke on March 4, 2006.

Sharpe was named to the ACC All-Freshman team at the end of the season, joining teammate Caleb Love. Overall, he won UNC’s Defensive Player of the Game award five times.

In an offseason filled with many questions for a UNC basketball program coming off an 18-11 record and first-round NCAA Tournament loss, Sharpe becomes the second freshman to depart the program. Earlier this week, Walker Kessler announced his intentions to transfer away from Chapel Hill.

Kessler was just the eighth recruit to transfer from the Carolina men’s basketball program during Williams’ 18-year coaching tenure and the third in the past two seasons.

Several UNC players still have big decisions to make about their future in the coming weeks — including fellow freshmen Love and R.J. Davis.

Featured image via ACC Media

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