Utah basketball coach Rick Majerus has had nothing but positive things to say about Adam Sharp during the past two years the former Alta High all-stater has been a Ute. Now the Ute coach is sad that Sharp must give up his basketball career due to an injury he suffered a year ago.
Sharp, who has been a reserve for the Utes the past two seasons, will forfeit his remaining two years of eligibility and concentrate on his studies. Sharp is a pre-med student who would like to attend medical school in two years.
"(Adam) has great heart — he had the potential to be a great role player," said Majerus. "I love Sharp. But if you can't play, you can't play. He wasn't even supposed to play this year."
Sharp was a redshirt on the Utes' NCAA runner-up team two years ago and a year later was one of the Utes' top reserves when they went on a school-record 23-game winning streak. However, he has never been the same since suffering a severe ankle injury last June in a pickup game. This past season, Sharp only saw limited action because of the soreness in his ankle and the effect the injury had on his ability.
"I lost nearly half of my jumping ability and a lot of my quickness," said Sharp. "The ankle I broke has never recuperated."
Sharp said he could have stayed on the team, but decided to take a medical stipend from the university, which is allowed under NCAA regulations.
"I was given the option to come back and play a limited amount, if any," said Sharp. "But after talking to the coaches and doctors, I decided to take the medical stipend."
Ute trainer Trevor Jameson said Sharp has never been the same after last summer's injury.
"He has not been able to get back to 100 percent," said Jameson. "We did stuff all year to get him stronger, but we weren't able to get him back to where he was before his injury."
With Sharp opting not to return, the Utes are expected to have 13 scholarship players, including returned missionaries Britton Johnsen and Trace Caton, who both return this summer. Another missionary who played for the Utes two years ago, Jon Carlisle, is not expected to play this year, according to Majerus, because of health problems suffered on his mission.
You can reach Mike Sorensen by e-mail at sor@desnews.com