Spider Sharpless

Spider Sharpless was introduced to basketball and inspired by watching Hall of Famer – and one-time Globetrotter – Magic Johnson play in his final NBA season. He was also inspired growing up by superstar basketball player Carmelo Anthony and considers Bo Jackson the greatest athlete who has ever lived, because of how he dominated two sports at the highest level.

His hard work earned him all-state honors in high school. Spider went on to play at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, where he was the Boxtorow Division II National Player of the Year and CIAA Player of the Year in his final season. He led the conference in rebounding that year (8.8 rpg) and was third in scoring (20.5 ppg), while shooting 50.7 percent from the field. Spider was the only player in the conference who was in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, steals, and blocked shots. He was a two-time All-CIAA honoree (2012, 2013).

Prior to joining the Globetrotters, Spider spent time with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers summer league action in 2013.

One of five siblings – he has four sisters – the North Carolina native is a fan of the Charlotte Hornets and is into video games, shopping, fashion, and writing poetry. He considers himself a pretty creative person and would like to someday channel that creative bug into learning how to play the piano.