Sharpe was a standout at Centennial High School in California where he averaged 17.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 3.2 steals per game in 2007-08 helping Centennial to a 27-5 record during his senior season.

View full size photo »

Big hit for the Buffs

Mark Allan Peterson

Big12Hoops Managing Editor

Colorado freshman guard Shannon Sharpe, a 6-1 guard from Corona, Calif., will miss the coming season according to Buffs head coach Jeff Bzdelik.

"Shannon’s injury has been difficult for all of us to deal with because our strong feelings for him as a terrific young man and for what he would have meant to our effectiveness as a team for this season," Bzdelik said. "However, he will come back even stronger for next season and that bodes well for our future. It is now up to others to contribute more, and I strongly believe in my players to rise to the occasion."

Sharpe will undergo micro-fracture surgery after injuring his left knee during one of the team's pre-season workouts.

The Buffs, picked to finish near or at the end of the Big 12 standings by most pre-season sources, begin the season Nov. 13 in Boulder against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tip-offf is 7 p.m. CST.