Although the incredibly talented Denise Sharps wanted to play basketball for Muskegon Heights High School, the school did not have a girls basketball program. An experienced player from the Heights’ City League, Sharps attended high school before the enforcement of the Title IX legislation prohibiting discrimination against students based on race, sex or religion. Her basketball career was delayed until she enrolled for classes at Muskegon Community College and joined the women’s basketball team.
In the winter of 1974, the Lady Jayhawks posted a 7-4 mark. A forward, Sharps torched the nets, ending the year with an impressive 25.9 points per game average. Denise returned to MCC in the winter of 1975. Joined by her sister Evette, the team rolled to a 13-1 regular season mark. Denise continued her torrid pace, averaging 24.7 points and 16 rebounds per game through the regular season. Upset in the opening round of the state tournament, the squad earned runner-up honors at the Regional Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) tournament. Although the team dropped both of its games in the national AIAW junior college tournament, the trip helped to establish women’s programs at MCC.
Spotted by a number of major college coaches at the national tournament, Sharps accepted a scholarship offer from Indiana State University. Moved to point guard, she excelled for the Lady Sycamores. The team posted a pair of 19-9 seasons during her two years at ISU. Along the way, Sharps set numerous ISU scoring marks. She remains the Lady Sycamore’s leader in career scoring average, with 18.1 points per game.
Upon graduation, the 5-foot-10 guard signed a free agent contract with the Iowa Cornets of the newly formed Women’s Professional Basketball League in 1978. An All-Star in her first season of professional play, Sharps led the Cornets to the Midwest Division co-championship and a trip to the WPBL finals. Denise remained in the league for three seasons, spending time with the Chicago Hustle and Minnesota Fillies before the collapse of the circuit following the 1980-81 season.