Everything points to Diallo being a shooter which we need. But can he play defense? We already have a shooter in Mulder, but his defensive liability is why Cal doesn't play him.
-
John 3:3
-
Diallo isn't a very good shooter at all actually. Tremendous athlete.
It's very rare for freshmen to be good defenders in general. Usually takes them literally months to get it unless they're total freaks like MKG. If Diallo did sign with Kentucky and start playing right away, it would be shocking if he was just a great defender right out of the gate with no practice time.
But if he does play on this team I think he'd be mostly in a Dominique Hawkins role. I'm convinced he could give us more--offensively and defensively--than the back-up guards we have now.Comment
-
IF Diallo tells Cal he wants to come here this yr and remain for the following season, that is great. However, as far as I know there would be nothing Cal could do if Diallo changed his mind and decided to declare for the draft after this season. Diallo could come here and practice with and against NBA caliber guards. Would he be good enough to be drafted after just one semester and if so, you would think he would be good enough to help us. A lot of unknowns with the situation.Comment
-
I think this is very accurate. Not a good shooter, more of a slasher. Great athlete. He is eligible for the draft next year but has insisted for quite some time that he plans to play in college next year. I think if he enrolls for semester 2 it is with the intention of playing college next year. He would start so far behind in practice time and familiarity with teammates, far less playing time than currently. I would think it would do more harm for his draft stock than it did good. But it would give him a head start on having a really good next year. And would set UK up for a monster class also.Comment
-
If he comes to Kentucky, yes. This seems to be the deal they're trying to work out.
I'd say the fact that this is an absolutely stacked draft class is one of the things they're trying to sell Diallo on. If he plays a back-up role on this team chances are he's not going to be a lottery pick. Not even sure about a first-rounder with as many incredible players that are out there this season. But after next year in a weaker draft you could be the man on the team and make a run at the top 5.Comment
-
That would be a risk you would've run with Diallo even if he would've verbally committed for next year.
It's the same risk you run with Deandre Ayton and Thon Maker and maybe even guys like Trevon Duval. All you can do as a coaching staff is lay out the scenario and hope the player follows it.
It sounds like the argument UK made swayed Diallo some during his visit, but you can't twist guys' arms to make them do things. I always think playing a year at Kentucky or Duke or Kansas is just as good of a play as taking a risk in the NBA if you're a borderline first-rounder. This is basically semi-pro basketball. It's instant, continuous exposure that builds players' platforms on which to create their professional career.Comment
-
Because outside of Bam, we really (surprisingly) don't have a consistent above-the-rim player. Diallo will dunk a lot, will dunk hard, and will do it through contact - the one major thing Monk seems to avoid. You'd hope Diallo's abilities would improve our rebounding a bit, too.Comment
-
The reason Monk doesn't play above the rim and over defenders is because he's a skinny 6'3".
But playing above the rim for shooting guards--or even wings--is generally rare in college basketball. MKG was a much bigger player but outside that one highlight dunk against Portland, I wouldn't call him an above-the-rim player. Kentucky's had some guards/wings who could maybe dunk over people, but I can't remember a shooting guard who could just drive in there and hammer the ball over defenders. Derek Anderson did it a couple times at 6'5". Chapman could do it but like Monk he spent most of his time out in space getting jumpshots. You just don't see pure two guards playing above the rim in the college game.
Diallo has better size, but more than playing above the rim he'll give us more quality depth at guard IF HE PLAYS. We come in first off the bench with a senior guard who almost literally never puts anything on the stat sheet. Diallo could step in with no practice and give us more than that, there's no doubt in my mind.Last edited by Joneslab; 01-02-2017, 12:32 PM.Comment
-
If he stays for the following year it is a no brainer.Comment
-
Second semester is about to start, correct? What is going on with him?Comment
Comment