Hamidou Diallo to Test Waters (UPDATE: DIALLO TO RETURN TO UK)

[Joneslab]

I put Monk, Murray, and Fox pretty close together as the fourth or fifth best Cal freshmen I've seen.

1. Davis
2. Wall
3. MKG
4. Fox
5. Monk
6. Towns
7. Murray
8. Cousins
9. Lamb
10. Randle

[Lighthouse]

I put Monk, Murray, and Fox pretty close together as the fourth or fifth best Cal freshmen I've seen.

1. Davis
2. Wall
3. MKG
4. Fox
5. Monk
6. Towns
7. Murray
8. Cousins
9. Lamb
10. Randle

I agree with these picks. I remember this time last year hearing Monk was a streaky shooter but very athletic, which proved to be true. I thought during the season he could have been a better defensive player If he had wanted to be.

[lilproUK98]

I put Monk, Murray, and Fox pretty close together as the fourth or fifth best Cal freshmen I've seen.

1. Davis
2. Wall
3. MKG
4. Fox
5. Monk
6. Towns
7. Murray
8. Cousins
9. Lamb
10. Randle

I'd have to put Randle ahead of Lamb. Doesn't he have most or 2nd most double doubles in UK history in a season?

[J.Jennings]

1. Davis
2.Wall
3.Cousins (could have average 25 a game if he was on any other team and the main focal point)
4.Towns (same as Cousins, to many sacrifices to be made
5.Murray
6.Monk
7.Brandon Knight ( Yes, not the biggest fan at the time but he actually carried a entire team for the most part all season long)
8.Fox
9.MKG (Not for his basketball skills, more for his refuse to lose attitude and keeping a team together and confident
10.Noel over Randle, Noel had no help at all....

[lilproUK98]

And yeah, Knight not before Lamb either Will??

[Joneslab]

Lamb had the benefit of playing that second year which allowed him to work out some of his issues, notably defensively. Lamb was notoriously lazy but it's interesting: by the end of his freshman year he was drawing the other team's best.

I put him a slight notch over Knight but probably just because I have a soft spot for Lamb. Loved his game.

Terrence Jones is very close there as well. His first 10 or 12 games his freshman year have to be the best of anybody we've seen at UK under Cal. Late in his sophomore year he sort of became a role player.

[Joneslab]

Back to Diallo...DraftExpress still has him at 35th, and this was updated after the combine measurements on Friday. So he made veritably no movement at least in this mock even after people got a look at the vertical. I believe he jumped one spot.

I trust DraftExpress far more than any of the other mocks, but even if one can assume he's in the 35th range that's still the window where it's possible for him to get a guarantee.

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2017/

[Catsrock]

I think if the Harrisons had not returned for their sophomore year then Booker would be on this list. There weren't enough minutes for him to really break out and shine but as quickly as he has flourished in the league he was probably ready while here. Was right in line with Murray and Monk. Arguably we've become more "2 guard U" than any other position.

[Joneslab]

I think if the Harrisons had not returned for their sophomore year then Booker would be on this list. There weren't enough minutes for him to really break out and shine but as quickly as he has flourished in the league he was probably ready while here. Was right in line with Murray and Monk. Arguably we've become more "2 guard U" than any other position.

Ulis too.

That said Aaron Harrison wouldn't be that far off that list. I think he had a better freshmen season than many give him credit for, even before the great shots at the end. Solid player but got a bad rap mostly because Andrew had an uneven freshman year.

Aaron though strangely regressed as a sophomore and Andrew sharply improved. I liked them but would love to have seen Ulis and Booker have that team full-time from the moment they stepped foot in Lexington. Different caliber of player.

[Catsrock]

^Yes on Ulis. Guess we'll have to watch Phoenix to see "what might have been."

[J.Jennings]

Shame on me forgetting D. Booker

[Joneslab]

Four out of five mock drafts have Diallo going in the first round. Three though have him late in the first.

Two years ago somebody did a study looking at the accuracy of these mocks. DraftExpress was by far the best followed by Chad Ford of ESPN. I don't think the ESPN mentioned in this article is Ford's mock because I believe he was let go recently.

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-nba-draft-lottery-mock-fox-monk-adebayo-diallo

[lilproUK98]

Four out of five mock drafts have Diallo going in the first round. Three though have him late in the first.

Two years ago somebody did a study looking at the accuracy of these mocks. DraftExpress was by far the best followed by Chad Ford of ESPN. I don't think the ESPN mentioned in this article is Ford's mock because I believe he was let go recently.

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/...adebayo-diallo

I think this is a very touchy situation for Cal and Diallo. Cal basically put it out there that if a team or teams assured Diallo that they would take him and didn't they would be outed by Cal and UK....

I honestly think that teams are going to shy away from guaranteeing Diallo that, and with the uncertainty of him being drafted in the first round, I expect him to return to UK....

He may have 1-2 workouts left, unless he really impresses and gets a guarantee, which rarely happens, he will return IMO.

I put very little stock into mock drafts, and more stock into what is actually happening with people's words, opinions, and with the workouts and how much buzz he stirs up.... We will likely hear some of that in the next few days, and he will have to make a decision by the 24th, and it will finally be decided lol.

[Joneslab]

I think this is a very touchy situation for Cal and Diallo. Cal basically put it out there that if a team or teams assured Diallo that they would take him and didn't they would be outed by Cal and UK....

I honestly think that teams are going to shy away from guaranteeing Diallo that, and with the uncertainty of him being drafted in the first round, I expect him to return to UK...

Really interesting point.

I put very little stock into mock drafts...

Me either. But that study I mentioned did show that DraftExpress was very close. Two years ago they got 15 of the 30 first-round picks exactly right, and if they missed they missed by only 3 spots. That's pretty good. David Aldridge, a longtime NBA guy, also had a mock on that study. He got one first-round pick right in his mock.

[lilproUK98]

Really interesting point.



Me either. But that study I mentioned did show that DraftExpress was very close. Two years ago they got 15 of the 30 first-round picks exactly right, and if they missed they missed by only 3 spots. That's pretty good. David Aldridge, a longtime NBA guy, also had a mock on that study. He got one first-round pick right in his mock.

MJ just said on his show that everyone he has talked to scout-wise and in general has said he should come back and will likely be lottery type pick next year and he believes he will and should as well. He has wavered lately but he said he talked to as many people as he could and that's what they said. Matt said he is 60/40 that he returns.

I think it comes down to the Nets today. They have two picks in the 20's....they may or may not be willing to guarantee him they'll pick him. Matt said that Diallo said he wants to be top 20 though and Cal said he should return if he is not low 20's or better.....so, we'll see what happens with the Nets I guess.