Houston’s all-time triples leader arrives in Sacramento bringing a defensive edge and championship DNA to a franchise prioritizing high-character winners ready to transform the locker room culture.
To round out the Sacramento Kings' 2026 NBA Draft Class, the front office drafted Houston guard Emanuel Sharp to bring 3-point shooting and winning pedigree to Sac Town.
On Monday, Sharp, alongside the other Kings draft picks, touched down in Sacramento for the first time as members of the team.
To kick off their professional careers, the three took pictures dawning their new Kings threads and then held a media presser alongside General Manage Scott Perry.
In his opening statements, Perry described what the thought process was when targeting players, saying he was seeking high-IQ, high-character players who had shown success at the collegiate level.
Sharp, he described as the "leader of one of the best college basketball programs in the University of Houston."
In each of his four seasons with the Cougars, Sharp led Houston to the Sweet 16 or beyond, including a national championship berth two seasons ago.
Following his introductory presser, Sharp said he believes he can translate this winning culture to the next level.
"I bring a lot of winning DNA...we know how to win. If we just buy in to the coaching staff and what they're telling us, I think this team will be great," Sharp told ABC10 News' Kevin John.
After failing to start a game in his freshman campaign, Sharp was a full-time starter for the rest of his tenure, averaging 12.6 points or better each year.
This past season, Sharp averaged a career-high 15.5 points per game, shooting the deep ball at 37.2-percent.
Sharp's point of attack on defense is elite, while using his strength and size to stand his ground against taller players.
Despite being listed at just 6-foot-3, Sharp plays much bigger, anchoring an elite Houston defense.
Sharp has the ability to get hot quickly, using a quick release and constant off-ball movement to free himself up for looks.
This past season, Sharp became the 3-point make career leader at Houston, making 309 deep balls.
While shot selection was a problem at times for Sharp, he made up for questionable attempts with maximum effort on the defensive end.
Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson, who's notoriously tough on his players, praised Sharp for his resilience and work ethic, saying he'll remember his four-year senior for his ability to "walk through the storm."
Sharp reiterated this strength and outlook, saying that "every year is a new chance to start something good," adding that he believes this year's incoming class and returning talents are the group to do it.
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