NBA Draft 2018: 5 potential second round steals

5. Hamidou Diallo (Kentucky)

After testing the waters a year ago as a mystery prospect, Kentucky’s Hamidou Diallo didn’t really have a freshmen season to pump up his stock. There were rumors during last year’s combine that Diallo received a late first round promise, but elected to go back to Lexington anyways. It’s very unlikely that he’ll get taken in that slot this time around.

Diallo struggled offensively all season long. His outside shot was inconsistent — inside or outside the 3-point line — and led to him posting a ghastly 42.8 field goal percentage. However, John Calipari kept faith in his redshirt freshmen, never fully taking him out of the rotation (though he eventually got demoted to a bench role).

Yet, the dynamic athletic wing won’t turn 20 until the end of July. His potential is still tantalizing enough that a team will definitely take a swing on him in the second round this year.

Diallo made a real impact on defense and in transition; two areas where the modern NBA really hangs its hat on currently. Diallo isn’t going to come in and immediately be a plus defender a la OG Anunoby, but he has the tools to be coached into a positive on that end eventually. Meanwhile, Diallo looks like a gazelle when he strides in open lanes. Diallo turned heads with his 44.5-inch vertical leap in 2017 (it slipped to 40.5 inches in 2018).

While Coach Cal hasn’t exactly run a superstar factory out of Kentucky, his players are usually some of the most prepared for not just the NBA game, but the lifestyle as well. Diallo is a piece of clay waiting to be molded by the right team. If the scenario fits him, Diallo could soon become one of the players that fans question how they lasted so long on draft night.