Hamidou Diallo finished up what he called a “great” official visit to Kentucky on Wednesday.
The supremely athletic 6-foot-5, 190-pound shooting guard from Putnam Science Academy (CT) has now taken officials to both UConn and Kentucky — both of which were first reported by ZAGSBLOG. He’s expected to take an official to Arizona in the new year, although no date has been nailed down. Arizona’s Jan. 5 game with Utah is a possibility. Diallo, who is currently doing a post-graduate year at Putnam Science, is eligible for the 2017 NBA Draft because he turns 19 in July and will be one year removed from his graduating class. Yet he has insisted he plans on attending college. “I’m 100 percent going to college right now,” Diallo said earlier this month. “I believe it is the right thing for me and my family right now.” At this stage, Diallo is looking to join a college team in January, but it remains unclear if he will play then. He could potentially train with the team and sit out the semester. He could then either enter the 2017 NBA Draft, which would be an unprecedented move after one semester of school, or spend the full 2017-18 season in college getting used to that level of play. Kentucky already has a loaded backcourt in freshmen De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk and sophomore Isaiah Briscoe, so it remains unclear how much Diallo could help them right away. Plus, if he chose to play in January he would be joining the team during conference play, which could make things tougher. “Hamidou brings a high level motor and intensity on both sides of the ball to whatever school he commits to,” NY Rens coach Andy Borman said. “There is no one in the country that plays harder than him and attacks the rim with that level of ferocity. Defensively he can guard 1-3 and sometimes the 4. He is the best rebounding guard in the country. He will be an immediate impact player on any school he chooses to attend.”Great Official Visit to Kentucky !!!
— Hamidou diallo (@Diallo1Hamidou) December 28, 2016
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
