Emmanuel Sharp on the verge of NBA draft after overcoming criticism and hard work

Emmanuel Sharp is widely expected to be selected in the upcoming NBA Draft, which begins overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday with the first round. The second round is scheduled for the night between Wednesday and Thursday. Sharp, the son of former Hapoel Tel Aviv player Derrick Sharp, worked out for 13 NBA teams, including Boston, Denver, Golden State, Indiana, New York, Oklahoma City and San Antonio.

Speaking to the magazine Piper City, Sharp described the atmosphere at team workouts, saying that at most NBA sessions, "the whole coaching staff is there," including general managers, head coaches and assistants, all watching from the side.

Calvin Sampson, who coached Sharp for the past four years at Houston, praised him strongly. "The team that picks Emmanuel is getting a winner," Sampson said. "I am already congratulating the team that selects him."

In the interview, Sharp also spoke about his parents. His father is Derrick Sharp, a former Maccabi Tel Aviv player, and his mother is Justin Allison, a former professional basketball player who was named Athlete of the Year at the University of Toronto. Sharp said he learned his toughness and edge from her, adding that before every game she tells him to "go give somebody an elbow to the balls." He said, "She is a little crazy, but I love her."

Sharp said reaching draft night was the result of a difficult journey. "I went through a lot of hardships to get to this point," he said. "I am proud of it. It was a blessing. It means a lot to me that I was able to overcome so many things and still be here. Despite all the hate and criticism, you just have to keep working."