The Toronto Raptors are hoping they found the next unicorn of the NBA. At 7’5”, Jamarion Sharp is hard to ignore. His height and elite shot-blocking ability make him one of the fiercest rim protectors at any level of basketball.
After seeing how Victor Wembanyama has taken over the league with his height and skills, teams are looking to duplicate him. This is why the Raptors are bringing Sharp in for the Summer League. They are hoping he becomes their paint protector for the 2026-27 NBA season.
Sharp is a 24-year-old former two-time NCAA blocks leader and two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year winner.
He played for three schools: John A. Logan College, Western Kentucky, and Ole Miss.
Throughout his collegiate career, Sharp averaged 6.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. This includes an average of 4.6 blocks per game during his junior year at Western Kentucky.
Despite his impressive defensive presence, Sharp went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft. This was a letdown, but Sharp wasn’t ready to give up quite yet.
Sharp’s Journey To Make An NBA Roster
After going undrafted, Sharp found his way onto the Dallas Mavericks‘ 2024 NBA Summer League team. Later in August, he signed a deal with Dallas, but his dreams would not come true.
In October, the Mavericks cut Sharp before the season started, but the young shot blocker joined the Texas Legends of the G League. With the Legends, Sharp averaged 6.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks in 29 games played.
The following summer, Sharp played for the Mavericks Summer League team again and after signing an Exhibit 10 contract, was waived again. So, Sharp returned to the Legends and had a great season.
Sharp averaged 7.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game. He was named the G League Defensive Player of the Year for the 2025-2026 season.
After the season, Sharp signed on to play for Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional basketball league. He made history by becoming the tallest player ever to play in a game.
Sharp averaged 23.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 7.2 blocks per game for Vaqueros de Bayamón. Now, the Raptors are giving Sharp a chance, as they signed him to their Summer League team.
Sharp certainly can make an impact on the defensive end for an NBA team. The problem teams may bring up is his lack of a strong offensive game. Most of his buckets come from lobs and put-back dunks.
Also, despite weighing 235 pounds, Sharp is skinny and he often gets pushed off his spots because of his thin frame. Sharp’s struggles at the free-throw line (39.3% in 2025-26 G League) are also a concern for teams.
Still, Sharp’s ability to change shots around the basket cannot be ignored. If he can bulk up and work on his offensive game, Sharp could be a big steal for the Raptors.
Ultimately, it’s up to his play this summer to impress the Raptors enough to give him a contract, so his NBA dreams can finally come true.
Will Sharp become the next NBA unicorn? Or fizzle out of another Summer League experience?
