Roy Williams, Jeff Capel Watch Kevin Knox; John Calipari Expected for Final of John Wall Invitational
Kevin Knox is playing this week in
Kevin Knox is playing this week in
Hamidou Diallo finished up what he called a “great” official visit to Kentucky on Wednesday.
Great Official Visit to Kentucky !!!
— Hamidou diallo (@Diallo1Hamidou) December 28, 2016
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.
BY JACK LeGWIN
COLUMBIA, S.C.– Brian “Tugs” Bowen, the 6-foot-7 small forward from La Lumiere (IN), expects to make his college decision relatively soon after the New Year.
“That decision process is going very well right now,” Bowen said. “I’m down to my five schools, I’ve taken all of my official visits probably in a couple weeks, or going into January, I’ll make my decision, so we will see where it goes from here.”
Bowen took a bit of time to break down each school in his top five, starting with Arizona.
“Arizona is a big time program and Sean Miller is a great coach,” Bowen said. “Their pitch is their style of play and the amount of guys they’ve got to the NBA at my position, so I really like that about them.”
By JACK LeGWIN COLUMBIA, S.C.- There's a great deal
Derrick Walker, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound senior power
Hamidou Diallo will take his official visit to Kentucky Dec. 26-28 and is also expected to take one to Arizona, ZAGSBLOG has learned.
Kentucky does not play again until Dec. 29 at Ole Miss, and doesn’t play at home until Jan. 3 against Texas A&M, so Diallo’s visit there won’t happen for a game.
The Arizona visit could come in early January. Arizona hosts Utah Jan. 5.
The 6-foot-6 Diallo is eligible for the 2017 NBA Draft and is considering enrolling in a college at the semester break but no final decisions have yet been made, sources close to Diallo told ZAGSBLOG. It also remains undecided whether the high-flying guard would suit up for a college in the second semester. (He could also opt to sit out, practice and play the 2017-18 season in college.)
Kentucky on Friday landed a pledge from small forward Jarred Vanderbilt, giving them five commits for 2017, including three frontcourt players in Vanderbilt, Nick Richards and P.J. Washington. They have two guards committed in Quade Green and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but have long coveted the high-flying Diallo. Green previously told ZAGSBLOG he would try to recruit Diallo to Kentucky.
Kentucky’s pitch to Diallo will likely include the argument that he would get the chance to practice against some of the best guards in the game on a daily basis, including projected one-and-done first-round picks Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox and sophomore guard Isaiah Briscoe.
Kentucky coach John Calipari saw Diallo earlier this month at the PSA Cardinals Showcase in Pottstown, Pa., and assistant Tony Barbee saw Diallo at the National Prep Showcase last month in New Haven.
Diallo is also considering Indiana, Syracuse and Kansas.
Diallo took his first official visit to UConn — first reported by ZAGSBLOG — last week and it culminated in the Huskies’ 70-67 loss to Auburn Friday afternoon at the XL Center.
