Five-star Hamidou Diallo discusses top six schools, NBA options
MORE: Rivals150 | 2017 team rankings
HYATTSVILLE, Md. – Five-star shooting guard Hamidou Diallo may ultimately have to choose between heading straight to the NBA or going to college. The No. 10 player in the class of 2017 discussed his options in depth with Rivals.com.
A New Yorker who attends Putnam (Conn.) Science Academy, Diallo graduated with the class of 2016 and is currently doing a prep year, which will allow him to be eligible to go straight to the NBA. This year, he's doing his best to focus on playing well while giving himself the best opportunities between the pros and his final six of Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas and Syracuse.
Explosive at 6-foot-5 with a prototype frame for a big two-guard, Diallo says that he can feel a little extra pressure this season.
"There's definitely more pressure on me knowing that coming out every game I've got big-time guys coming to watch me play," Diallo told Rivals.com. "I'm just working to overcome the pressure and just go out there and play hard. But, it's something that I've worked for and I'm seeing my hard work pay off.
"So I'm just coming out every day and playing hard and trying to give it my all."
Because of the NBA attention – and most of the NBA has seen him this season – members of Diallo's final six wouldn't be blamed if they proceeded with caution when it comes to his recruitment. That hasn't been the case.
"I wouldn't say so," said Diallo, when asked if the NBA possibility has had any negative impact on his recruitment. "Every school that is still in my top six is still recruiting me and trying to land me."
There have never been any questions about Diallo's athleticism and ability in the open court. But, his jumper and handles have been the concern for NBA teams and he did a great job of addressing those while scoring 41 points (18-for-31 FGs) and grabbing 16 rebounds in two appearances at the National Hoops Festival.
"It is just getting a good feel for it and trying to do different things," Diallo said. "I'm trying to fix little things and tweak little things and definitely getting more reps up with my jump shot."
Diallo discussed what he likes about each of the schools recruiting him:
Arizona: "I haven't gotten a chance to go out there yet. It's the Pac-12, a great style of play where they get up and down in transition. The coaching staff, I've met with them a couple of times and they seem like really good people."
UConn: "UConn is definitely great people and a great coaching staff. It's just a place where Kevin Ollie is big on player development and he just feels like family and they have great fans as well.
Indiana: "Tom Crean is a great coach. He's great with player development and you can see it with his prior history. That's a big thing I'm on and he's had guys like Dwyane Wade and Victor Oladipo and he's just worked with them and gotten them better throughout their college careers."
Kansas: "Kansas is a great program. I haven't gotten to visit there but coach (Bill Self) seems real cool and coach (Norm) Roberts up there is from Queens, which is where I'm from, and it seems like a great program."
Kentucky: "Coach (John) Calipari just seems like a great guy. It's a great program and they've had great players in the past. They know how to get guys ready for the next level."
Syracuse: "I've been up there a bunch of times and it feels like a great family atmosphere. They have great coaches there and the fans, I've been to a couple of games, the fans are awesome and it seems like a great program."
Currently, Diallo has no timetable and he doesn't plan to make a decision anytime soon. Feedback gathered by Rivals.com from NBA personnel has him as a potential first-round pick and he's going to have to balance that feedback with figuring out which program fits him best before making a final decision.
"I'm trying to work on it with my schedule and I'm working with my family on it day by day to just see how it goes," Diallo said. "I have a final six and I don't even know if I'm going to take all five visits. I'm just trying to see how it works out and seeing who is staying and who is going and things like that. I'm just trying to enjoy it."