UAB Blazers Land Gadsden Star Jakobi Sharp

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB men's basketball coach Andy Kennedy announced the signing of Jakobi Sharp, a top in-state recruit from Gadsden City High School in Gadsden, Alabama, on Nov. 12, 2025. The 6-3 guard played all four years at Gadsden City, averaging 22.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in his senior season while earning North-South All-Star Game MVP honors. Sharp has already surpassed 1,500 career high school points.[1] Sharp's addition addresses UAB's need for backcourt scoring as the Blazers prepare for the 2026-27 season. A product of Etowah County's basketball hotbed, the Gadsden native chose to stay in Alabama over other suitors, boosting local recruiting momentum for Kennedy's program. His high school exploits at Gadsden City, a perennial contender in Class 6A, highlight his readiness for Conference USA competition.[1] This signing comes amid roster turnover for UAB, with several players like Chance Westry entering the transfer portal after the 2025-26 season. Westry, a 6-6 guard from Pennsylvania, played for the Blazers before transferring to Xavier in April 2026. Despite outgoing transfers including Daniel Rivera, Paul Djobet and others, Sharp provides a foundation of homegrown talent.[2][4][5] Kennedy, in his ninth season at UAB, emphasized Sharp's versatility and work ethic in the announcement. The Blazers, who play home games at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, aim to build on recent recruiting classes amid the competitive Alabama hoops landscape dominated by Tuscaloosa and Auburn.[1]