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Class of 2017 6’6″ wing player Hamidou Diallo will take official visits in the coming weeks to Kentucky and Arizona, according to a report Friday by Zagsblog.
Diallo, who attends the Putnam (Conn.) Science Academy, is expected to visit Kentucky next week after Christmas, while the Arizona visit could come in early January, the report indicated. Arizona hosts Utah on Jan. 5 and Colorado two days after.
The Zagsblog report also indicated that Diallo is considering enrolling in a college at the semester break. The spring semester at Arizona starts Jan. 11. He has graduated from high school and is attending Putnam as a post-graduate.
Another talented wing, Brian Bowen of La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere, is reportedly close to a decision. His finalists are Arizona, Michigan State, Creighton and Texas.
How is a second jump this explosive even possible? Hamidou Diallo is an insane person. pic.twitter.com/3Ed9LCCs4W
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) December 13, 2016
Sean Miller and assistant Joe Pasternack have recruited Bowen and assistant Book Richardson has played a major part in Diallo’s recruitment. Diallo hails from Queens, N.Y., a recruiting base for Richardson.
It appears Miller is addressing a need at the wing position for 2017-18.
One of Richardson’s prized recruits, wing player Rawle Alkins, of Brooklyn, is excelling to the point NBA teams will give him a good look in the last three months of the season. Another wing, Ray Smith, has retired from basketball after suffering his third knee injury in as many years.
Five-star shooting guard Hamidou Diallo opens up about potential to decide between the NBA and college https://t.co/9orh1b4cDr pic.twitter.com/t0lUThzki8
— Eric Bossi (@ebosshoops) December 12, 2016
Kentucky earlier Friday landed a commitment from another small forward, Jarred Vanderbilt, who was also on Arizona’s radar last summer. His pledge gives Kentucky five commits for 2017.
Diallo is also reportedly considering nearby Connecticut, Indiana, Syracuse and Kansas. He took an official visit to UConn yesterday and today.
Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge and numerous NBA scouts have scouted Diallo at Putnam Science. Diallo has indicated to recruiting services he’s set on attending college. Many scouts reportedly believe Diallo should further develop himself by attending college.
“(The NBA scouts) were disappointed by the lack of urgency that he showed,” Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com told Zagsblog. “He was kind of going through the motions and coasting. His jump shot still needs a lot of work. His body needs a lot of work. If Hamidou is not going to play hard, then he’s just not that interesting a prospect. He’s 6-5, 190 pounds without a great jumper. You can find that a dime a dozen.”
Judging by Hamidou Diallo's body language while he's being evaluated by the entire NBA, he has absolutely no intention of entering the draft
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) November 20, 2016
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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