2018 NBA Draft: Hamidou Diallo should stay at Kentucky
By Max Holm
Where Kevin Knox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have solidified their statuses as draft prospects, Hamidou Diallo has taken a big step back.
The Kentucky Wildcats are still alive in the NCAA Tournament because of youth. Kevin Knox has done his part and the emergence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has propelled them in a region that is busting everyone’s brackets. Amidst what could be another Final Four run is the insignificant role Hamidou Diallo is playing.
Diallo was considered by many to be the top prospect at Kentucky heading into the college season. In the several months since, he’s looked as though he might not even be one of their best three or four. Before examining his season and struggles, it’s important to go back to a key decision Diallo made.
Having been a year removed from graduating high school, Diallo was eligible for the NBA Draft last June. Diallo tested the waters, but decided to return to Kentucky. Coming off the buzz of a hyped 2017 class, this didn’t seem like the worst move. Yet the emergence of players like Trae Young and Jaren Jackson Jr. created a deeper lottery than last year.
On the back of this decision, Diallo started the year well. He was flying above the rim and hitting jumpers. As the year wore on and SEC play began, some very troubling warts came to the forefront. Diallo was horrendous and lost defensively, with poor decision-making and feel for the game. He was outsmarted and outmaneuvered by players slower, shorter and less skilled than he was. A shell of the prospect he was talked up to be, his stock was plummeting.
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His athleticism hasn’t helped him on defense, a vital avenue to become a useful NBA player. In addition, his suspect jumper has been exactly that. Diallo is shooting less than 35 percent from 3 and less than 29 percent on 2-point jumpers, per Hoop-Math. Before following up on his poor feel for the game, if you have a player who can’t shoot or play defense, what value do they offer in the modern NBA? The culmination of all of this makes us look closely in hindsight at Diallo’s decision.
Players like Miles Bridges and Robert Williams made similar decisions to return to college this year. However, neither guy played himself out of the first round. Neither took the jump many expected, but it’s hard to say they made a bad decision by not coming out. For Diallo, it looks like he was better off as a mystery.
There’s always a chance some NBA team takes him late in the first round or even the second round. Still, the player we see on the court, barring a miracle, is years away from contributing on the NBA level. Diallo shouldn’t feel pressured to make the leap to the NBA. He’ll see his freshmen teammates do the same, but he should avoid that temptation. Though he tested the waters last year, Diallo will only be a sophomore next season.
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Jumping to the NBA now leaves a lot of risk of not even making a team’s roster. He could be stuck in the G League. Returning to school gives him more time to work on his game and convince NBA front offices that he can do more than just fly high above the rim.