Kentucky Basketball: Hamidou Diallo chooses Kentucky over UConn and others

One of the best players in the class of 2017, Hamidou Diallo, committed to Kentucky basketball on Saturday evening.

Whoever John Calipari wants, he seems to get.

This time, the Kentucky Wildcats received a commitment from five-star guard Hamidou Diallo, who chose the Wildcats over the UConn Huskies, among other top notch schools. Diallo will enroll in Kentucky immediately and will practice once the new semester begins on January 11.

There's @Diallo1Hamidou in Kentucky blue. #BBN pic.twitter.com/wg2DRH9ITh
— Chris Barca (@CBarca_) January 7, 2017

Hamadou Diallo committed to Kentucky, will be practicing with team next week. Also eligible for draft this summer. Lots of choices ahead.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) January 7, 2017

The 6’5″, 188 pound guard was ranked 11th in ESPN’s top 100 for the class of 2017 and was the third best shooting guard in the nation. However, because Diallo has already graduated from Putnam Science Academy, he is eligible to enroll in college immediately and declare for the 2017 NBA Draft if he so chooses.

And that’s where Diallo has a decision to make. He has a plethora of options to consider over the next couple of weeks and months.

Kentucky’s guard could opt to practice with the Wildcats for the rest of the season before declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft. He could then compete in the NBA Combine, meet with teams and go through the pre-draft process before deciding whether or not it’s in his best interest to remain a pro.

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Secondly, Diallo could begin to practice and play with the Wildcats for the rest of the 2016-17 season before either declaring for the NBA Draft or staying one more season (2017-18). Diallo would give Calipari and company another talented guard off the bench, however, the youngster wouldn’t receive many minutes due to the play of Isaiah Briscoe, De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk.

The most realistic option is for Diallo to practice with the Wildcats for the rest of the season and remain in Lexington for the entire 2017-18 season. He would get a head start in Kentucky’s system and strength and conditioning program, while not being a detriment to the Wildcats’ chemistry and rhythm. Diallo would then have one full season to impress scouts.

Also, the 2017 NBA Draft is loaded with talent. Who knows if Diallo, who scouts have never seen play in a college game, would even be considered as a potential 1st round pick. In 2018, Diallo could be a lottery pick, especially if he improves his jump shot and becomes stronger.

The shooting guard is an elite athlete, a versatile defender and a dominate transition player. However, he does have weaknesses that need to be fixed before heading to the next level. I already mentioned his jump shot, but he tends to play out of control at times, turning the basketball over to his opponent.

If Diallo does indeed stay in 2017-18, Kentucky will have one of the best, if not the best, recruiting class in the nation. Beyond Diallo, Calipari has commitments from three other five-star prospects (Nick Richards, P.J. Washington and Quade Green) and a four-star talent (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander). They may lose Briscoe, Fox, Monk and Edrice ‘Bam’ Adebayo, but their front court is projected to be loaded, and Diallo, Green and Gilgeous-Alexander is as skilled of a backcourt as you will find.

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The Wildcats have done it again. That’s the power of Calipari and Big Blue.

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