POSTED: Thursday January 15, 2009

By TRISTAN AIRD
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Since Danika Sharp was given her first basketball at 2 years old, John Sharp has kept a watchful eye on his daughter’s game.

So watchful, he now is Danika’s coach at West Wendover, where the 5-foot-9-inch junior combo guard has blossomed into one of the state’s most heavily recruited players.

“Her freshman year, her and I clashed constantly,” John Sharp said. “It got a lot better. It’s almost a dream to coach her.”

But it took time for Danika to adjust to her father barking instructions from the sideline.

“We did clash a lot,” she said, “but now that I know that he’s trying to help me be better, I think we get along.”

Through 13 games, Danika Sharp was averaging 31.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

But after getting off to a 12-1 start, the Wolverines are 0-3 in Class 2A Southern League play, suffering double-digit home losses to Lincoln County, Mountain View and White Pine.

“She’s a phenomenal player,” Lincoln County coach Henry Frehner said. “She’s lightning quick. She’s adapted to her teammates better than she has in past years.”

Frehner said the Lynx defended Sharp not necessarily by double-teaming her but by making it more difficult for her to get the ball back after passing to a teammate. She still scored 21 points in West Wendover’s 54-38 loss to Lincoln County on Jan. 9.

John Sharp said part of the challenge has been defenses using a box-and-one scheme or even triple-teaming Danika to try to neutralize her.

“To be honest, we’ve kind of dealt with that all the way through,” he said. “Even in junior high.”

Still, Danika Sharp averaged 19 points in the three league losses, and the recruiting interest in her has not waned.

All but one of the 20-plus programs that have expressed interest in her are Division I, John Sharp said.

UNR watched her score 27 points against White Pine on Tuesday, and New Mexico, Wyoming, San Diego, Pacific, Brigham Young, UNLV, East Carolina and others have been in frequent contact.

“I would like to improve on my defense a little better, continue to work on shooting,” she said when asked what areas she hopes to improve before heading to college.

A grade-point average between 3.7 and 3.8, plus Amateur Athletic Union success with Salt Lake Metro, hasn’t hurt in the recruiting process.

“It’s been good exposure,” John Sharp said of the AAU circuit. “She traveled around the country with them, played some really good competition.”

Even starring at tiny West Wendover, which is closer to Boise, Idaho, than Las Vegas, hasn’t stopped Danika Sharp from attracting dozens of college coaches.

“I think she’s one of the best players in the state, for sure,” John Sharp said. “I would put her up against anybody as far as talent and skill.

“I’m her father, so I’m a little biased. But there haven’t been many kids that can stay with her on the court.”