Hamidou Diallo Commits to KENTUCKY

[Joneslab]

Guys and gals please remember that we ARE a "players first" program. If a player is capable of getting drafted in the lottery or first round then Cal won't cheat them from it...He will encourage it.

I pray that I'm wrong on this but I just have a funny feeling that he'll never suit up unless it's for a photo of some kind.

You are as far as this goes.

Not a lottery pick. Not a first round pick. Maybe not a draft pick at all. Cal could start bragging now and not stop until June and it won't change a thing. This draft is totally crazy.

[Matt Dillon]

I'd really like to know the skinny on Diallo. I've seen him described as as a diamond in the rough type, while a poster, on another thread, has anointed him as being better than most of the players on the team now.

[George]

I'd really like to know the skinny on Diallo. I've seen him described as as a diamond in the rough type, while a poster, on another thread, has anointed him as being better than most of the players on the team now.

I don't understand this. A particular facet of his game might be rough, but overall his skills are elite and well-known. Not sure I'd rank him above Fox or Monk - though I don't know enough to say I wouldn't either.

[Matt Dillon]

I don't understand this. A particular facet of his game might be rough, but overall his skills are elite and well-known. Not sure I'd rank him above Fox or Monk - though I don't know enough to say I wouldn't either.

My use of the phrase of diamond in the rough probably was incorrect although most of the comments, in this thread, make it appear he's nowhere near being ready for the NBA. You've addressed my thoughts quite well in the Mind boggling thread.

[Joneslab]

A lot of people vastly oversell how good 18-year-olds can be. (And some people undersell; I've seen posters on this very board say stuff like, "You just never know how good a freshman is going to be!" That's simply not true.)

If he plays on this team it will be in a back-up role. He is not on the level of the three guards we have now. Because of his athleticism he has more upside than Briscoe, but you're talking about a 20-year-old man with Briscoe. He'd absolutely break Diallo in half.

Because of his athleticism and speed and size IMO Diallo could compete, but that's about all I would expect. I.e. about on the level of what Hawkins gives us. Next year with a half-season and full off-season of training, he should be ready to be a go-to player, and his athleticism and explosiveness are definitely in that mold.

[Joneslab]

But as far as "diamond in the rough," that's not what I was saying about Diallo at all. Erik Daniels was a diamond in the rough. Diallo is a totally different deal.

The reason he doesn't register in this draft has more to do with the draft than him. If he would've come along last year at this time I think it likely would have been a different story. But there is all kinds of young talent at the top of this draft that's going to automatically squeeze him out.

[justford]

I'd really like to know the skinny on Diallo. I've seen him described as as a diamond in the rough type, while a poster, on another thread, has anointed him as being better than most of the players on the team now.

http://kentucky.247sports.com/Bolt/QA-Hamidou-Diallos-coach-Tom-Espinosa-50394622

[Matt Dillon]

But as far as "diamond in the rough," that's not what I was saying about Diallo at all. Erik Daniels was a diamond in the rough. Diallo is a totally different deal.

The reason he doesn't register in this draft has more to do with the draft than him. If he would've come along last year at this time I think it likely would have been a different story. But there is all kinds of young talent at the top of this draft that's going to automatically squeeze him out.

Apparently, you didn't see my retraction of the "diamond in the rough comment" (see post # 19).

[GOCAT15]

Guys and gals please remember that we ARE a "players first" program. If a player is capable of getting drafted in the lottery or first round then Cal won't cheat them from it...He will encourage it.

I pray that I'm wrong on this but I just have a funny feeling that he'll never suit up unless it's for a photo of some kind.

Like Will said, he doesn't even register on any draft boards, so no matter how much Cal wanted to sell him he is not going to jump from an undrafted kid to the first round just because of how he plays in practice and I think this kid has first round talent, just not quite yet. Cal has convinced him that if he puts in the work then he can be a factor in the 2018 draft.

[Joneslab]

If he would have wanted the 2017 draft, you go to UConn. He was apparently determined to do just that as recently as three weeks ago.

That he spurned UConn is very telling about what he plans to do and why he did it this way.

[DA#23]

I need to stop watching videos regarding Diallo.

[Friendsofcoal]

Everybody please read through this thread again, please. He used us for getting praise and attention plain and simple. I knew it was a mistake from day 1....hopefully I'm wrong and he's wanting to be a lottery pick and suits up for us next year to prove his worth. If I had to bet, he's gone.

[Joneslab]

Everybody please read through this thread again, please. He used us for getting praise and attention plain and simple. I knew it was a mistake from day 1....hopefully I'm wrong and he's wanting to be a lottery pick and suits up for us next year to prove his worth. If I had to bet, he's gone.

Could be just trying to see where he is. Hard to blame him for that, and he's in the same boat as a lot of other guys.

Probably will be gone if he can get a guarantee but not sure he will in this draft. One thing that will help him is the fact that he's an unknown quantity and is going to get a lot of attention from these NBA teams until late May.

[Matt Dillon]

It seems, to me, if Skal could get drafted, about anyone could.

[Joneslab]

It seems, to me, if Skal could get drafted, about anyone could.

Skal came in as the #1 prospect out of high school. Colossal length, could play out on the floor, reportedly had otherworldly athleticism. Good instincts, above-average shot-blocker.

Easy to see why he was drafted.

If he had any grit whatsoever he would've gone #1 overall. You don't see guys with that sort of crazy length, shooting touch, and athletic fluidity very often. Those types of players are genetic outliers. Skal simply was not a gamer.

By not playing, Diallo opened up a lot of mystery about himself. You don't know whether he's a gamer or not; the NBA doesn't even know what weaknesses he has. That was part of the play by his family. It may work out but there are a quite a few guys who are more known quantities ahead of him.