NBA Mock Draft: DeAndre Ayton joins the Hawks

TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 09: Deandre Ayton
TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 09: Deandre Ayton /
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. . Kentucky. Hamidou Diallo. 15. player. 77

If Diallo can be an elite 3-point shooter, which is well within range considering his early success at Kentucky, he could be really great.

Frustratingly, despite shooting 35 percent from distance, Diallo is taking less than three per game and shooting only 62 percent from the free-throw line. It’s hard to peg him in terms of his shooting at this point, but the potential is clear. He can get the 3-pointer off in a variety of situations, including pulling up off the bounce, a shot which could take him to another level if it falls at a higher rate.

In transition, the ability and willingness to shoot makes Diallo incredibly difficult to defend. He combines the shooting efficiency with a nasty first step and leaping ability, already finishing off some of the most devastating dunks of the young NCAA season.

The big step for Diallo is consistency, especially for a Kentucky team in desperate need of it. Outside of Kevin Knox, no one has earned coach John Calipari’s trust, but Diallo has the skills to step up for the Wildcats throughout conference play and into March. He has elite offensive tools and the athleticism to put his mark on every NCAA game he plays, plus an extra season of experience after redshirting during the second semester last year.