RECRUITING: West Wendover standout Sharp selects UNR

West Wendover’s girls basketball team didn’t have much to celebrate after a 13-point home loss to White Pine on Jan. 13.

But immediately after the game, coaches from UNR approached West Wendover coach John Sharp with an interesting proposition outside the Wolverines’ locker room.

After watching Sharp’s daughter, junior guard Danika, score 27 points against the Bobcats, the UNR staff wanted to offer her a scholarship. John Sharp relayed the message to Danika, who quickly became enamored with the Wolf Pack.

Danika Sharp orally committed to UNR on Sunday after taking an unofficial visit. She chose the Wolf Pack over 20 other schools, including runner-up Utah.

“I want to be a teacher, so I thought the education department was really good,” Sharp said. “The coaching staff was just wonderful. I love the campus. I thought it was really nice.”

Sharp said UNR tentatively plans to use her as a combo guard, a role in which she thrived for the Wolverines this season after greatly improving her jump shooting. She had games in which he scored 50, 44, 42 and 41 points.

The 5-foot-9-inch Sharp averaged 29.7 points, 6.6 steals, 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.1 blocks, helping West Wendover finish 20-9. She shot 48 percent from the field, 42 percent on 3-point attempts and 82 percent at the free-throw line.

Though John Sharp kept a watchful eye over her recruiting, he said the UNR choice was all Danika’s.

“It’s an exciting time,” he said. “She just felt like UNR was the right place for her to be, so she was willing to commit early. She felt right about it as soon as she walked on campus.”

Other schools to express interest included New Mexico, Wyoming, San Diego, Pacific, Brigham Young, UNLV and East Carolina.

Sharp said she does not plan to play on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit this summer. She had played previously for Salt Lake Metro.