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Indiana Pacers: 5 Players To Consider With 20th Pick

By Cameron Stewart

Mar 5, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) brings the ball up court during the first half of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) brings the ball up court during the first half of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 23, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Cheick Diallo (13) shoots as Baylor Bears forward Rico Gathers (2) defends during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Cheick Diallo (13) shoots as Baylor Bears forward Rico Gathers (2) defends during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Cheick Diallo

6-foot-9, 219 pounds, Kansas (freshman)
2015-16  college stats: 3.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.9 blocks.

After an odd freshman season that saw the Rivals.com fifth-best recruit in the nation barely see the floor at Kansas, Diallo has impressed greatly at the NBA Draft Combine.

Diallo is one of the mystery men in this draft, playing in 10 or more minutes in eight games a freshman due to an early season suspension for receiving $165 worth of impermissible benefits from his legal guardian before the legal guardianship became official and also because of playing behind upperclassmen who had already earned coach Bill Self’s trust.

Diallo is a bit of a project, and since he’s undersized at 6’9″, it’s worth wondering just if his potential is worth taking on the project.

In his limited playing time, Diallo did produce at a pretty high level, averaging 16.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per 40 minutes while also shooting 56.9 percent from the field.

While those per-40 minute averages are nice, his 10.8 personal fouls per 40 minutes is not.

Diallo started playing basketball only five years ago and for all his warts, most can be traced to his lack of playing experience.

Diallo makes up for his less-than-ideal height with a seven feet four-and-a-half inch wingspan as measured at the NBA Draft Combine, which combined with very good athleticism for his size help him make a shot blocking presence.

With his height, athleticism, and lack of experience as a player who was born overseas, Bismack Biyombo comes to mind. It took years of development for him to become a presence, but he’ll likely be cashing in on a great playoff performance in free agency in July.

Diallo was knocking down his midrange jumpers during the combine’s 5-on-5 scrimmages, flashing potential to be more than just a rim-running dunker like Biyombo, despite not showing much offensive skill in his brief time at Kansas.

Whatever team picks Diallo won’t be expecting much return on their investment immediately, but could eventually become an impact player.

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