“Wavelength,” that’s the word redshirt senior guard Emanuel Sharp used to describe graduate guard Ramon Walker Jr.
“Him and I are on the same page for damn near everything,” Sharp said.
When asked how they became friends, the pair simultaneously burst into laughter, a moment that showed just how in sync they are.
They described it as a simple connection that began after their first of now five seasons in Houston, when they became roommates.
“It was kinda like, ‘yeah, you’re cool,’” Walker said, exchanging a handshake with Sharp. “And I was like, ‘bet, friends,’” Sharp added.
A redshirt freshman year for Sharp and a medical redshirt senior season for Walker will allow the two to finish their college careers side by side, and they hope to log more minutes together on the court than they have in previous seasons.
In 2022-23, the pair shared the floor for just nine games, after Walker spent time away from the team for personal reasons. That number jumped to 27 in 2023-24 before dropping to eight in 2024-25, when a December hand injury sidelined Walker for the rest of the season.
“Hopefully, this is my first full year I can play with (Emanuel),” Walker said. “We’ve never really played a full year out together, so I’m excited for that.”
The two pride themselves on embodying the Cougar defensive-minded culture and challenging the freshmen, earning credit for giving out the most bumps on the team.
“Best defenders and best at being physical without fouling,” freshman guard Kingston Flemings said of the veteran duo.
Off the court, the two balance each other out, with Sharp’s lively personality complementing Walker’s more reserved nature.
“His outgoing energy, you don’t find that in a lot of people,” Walker said. “I feel like he’s able to socialize with anybody, and that’s something I’m not good at.”
Despite their differences, the two share a sharp sense of humor and a love for words. Their word-of-the-day competition has become a staple of their friendship. They challenge each other to use “really big” words correctly, and whoever succeeds earns the daily point.
Walker added that Sharp’s skills make the contest even more exciting.
“He’s got a very good way with words,” Walker said as Sharp fanned himself in flattery. “He’s very articulate.”
With another season ahead, thanks to extra eligibility, the duo will have even more time to battle over vocabulary and share the court, continuing the friendship that has grown through four seasons.
“When I heard he was coming back, it was great,” Sharp said.
“That’s my guy.”
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