Who is Emanuel Sharp? Sacramento Kings land Houston legend with unique international background in NBA Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Sacramento Kings added one of college basketball’s most accomplished shooters in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, selecting Houston guard Emanuel Sharp with the No. 45 overall pick.

Sharp leaves Houston as one of the greatest players in program history after helping Kelvin Sampson turn the Cougars into a perennial national championship contender. While his outside shooting immediately stands out, his remarkable family background and international upbringing make him one of the more fascinating stories in this year’s draft class.

Here’s everything to know about Sacramento’s newest rookie.

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Emanuel Sharp leaves Houston as one of the greatest Cougars ever

Few players have enjoyed a career at Houston quite like Sharp. By the time his four seasons came to an end, he ranked as the second-winningest player in school history, helping the Cougars pile up victories while becoming one of the faces of one of college basketball’s premier programs.

He also finished atop Houston’s record book in one major category.

During a February win over Utah, Sharp buried a career-high eight 3-pointers to surpass Marcus Sasser as the program’s all-time leader in made three-pointers. The record-breaking shot came from nearly 30 feet away, fitting for one of the nation’s elite perimeter shooters.

He finished his career with 277 made three-pointers, cementing his place in Houston basketball history.

One of college basketball’s best shooters

Sharp saved his best basketball for his senior season. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 15.5 points per game while knocking down 37.2% of his three-point attempts. He also shot an outstanding 89.1% from the free-throw line, showcasing the shooting touch that made him one of the most dangerous guards in the Big 12.

Throughout his four collegiate seasons, Sharp steadily improved his offensive game.

After averaging just 5.9 points as a freshman, he developed into a double-digit scorer during each of his final three seasons, averaging 12.6 points in both his sophomore and junior years before breaking out as Houston’s leading perimeter scorer during his senior campaign. His ability to make difficult shots in big moments became one of the trademarks of Kelvin Sampson’s teams.

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Sharp has a unique international family story

Sharp’s path to the NBA is unlike most players in this draft.

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, he holds triple citizenship through Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom, giving him one of the most unique international backgrounds among NBA prospects.

Basketball also runs in the family.

His father, Derrick Sharp, enjoyed a legendary professional career with Maccabi Tel Aviv and became one of the most recognizable players in Israeli basketball history. Derrick represented Israel internationally after becoming a naturalized citizen, helping inspire Emanuel’s own basketball journey from an early age.

Growing up around professional basketball gave Emanuel a firsthand look at what it takes to compete at the highest level before eventually making his own name at Houston.

Why the Kings targeted Sharp

Sacramento is adding one of the safest shooting prospects available in the second round. Sharp brings proven experience, four years under one of college basketball’s best coaches in Kelvin Sampson, and a winning pedigree that few players in this class can match.

Whether he earns minutes immediately or develops over time, the Kings are getting a player who knows how to fit into a winning culture. For a franchise looking to strengthen its depth, adding Houston’s all-time three-point king and one of the winningest players in school history could prove to be one of the better value picks of the 2026 NBA Draft.