Hamidou Diallo, five-star recruit, commits to the Kentucky Wildcats
By Chris Stone
Hamidou Diallo announced his college decision Saturday evening. Here’s what it means.
Five-star prospect Hamidou Diallo has committed to the Kentucky Wildcats. He will enroll next week, but is not expected to play this semester.
Diallo, a 6-foot-6 recruit, has spent this season playing a post-graduate year at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, honing his skills as one of the elite wing prospects in the country. Already, he is an excellent athlete who excels slashing to the basket and playing in transition. His 6-foot-10 wingspan has helped him become an imposing defender as well. Diallo needs to develop a working jumper, but could still be an impactful college player without one.
The 18-year old is also eligible for the 2017 NBA draft because he graduated high school last spring and he would likely be a first round pick if he were to declare. Scout’s Brian Snow believes that Diallo will at least test the waters in 2017 and may never play a game for the Wildcats. As Thon Maker’s experience last year shows, NBA teams value the potential of young players even when they are lesser knowns, which could play into Diallo’s hands as a prospect.
Enrolling in college at semester will give Diallo an opportunity to improve his game either way. “The truth is, Hamidou has maxed out his potential as a high school player, and he can go into a college environment and really work on his game,” Scout’s Evan Daniels told the Lexington Herald-Leader.
There are benefits to Kentucky, too, even if Diallo never steps on the court in a Kentucky uniform. He will provide another elite talent for De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk and Isaiah Briscoe to compete against in practice as they prepare for a March run.
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Diallo gives the Wildcats a handful of five-star recruits for 2017-18. Assuming he does not stay in the, Kentucky may enter next season as the presumptive national title favorites.