Uncertainty surrounds UK freshman Diallo and his future in basketball

This time last month, 5 star recruit and the number 11 overall high school basketball recruit in the class of 2017, Hamidau Diallo, was a high school student. With scholarship offers from nearly every major program, Diallo made his commitment to The University of Kentucky on Jan. 7, signing and enrolling on the same day after graduating from New York’s Browne High School early, having received the necessary credits.

Now, attending classes at UK and practicing with the Cats, a few questions concerning his future as a Wildcat continue to arise: will he play this year? If not, will he stay next season and be a contributor? Lastly, will he leave this summer for the NBA?

Sitting at number six in the national rankings, Kentucky currently has a loaded roster with the likes of star freshmen Malik Monk, Bam Adebayo, and De’aaron Fox. These three are all considered top prospects for the NBA after the 2016-17 season and have carried the team in tight games this year. With the insertion of Hamidau Diallo into the lineup, the Cats will gain an electric, big bodied shooting guard who will almost certainly be an immediate factor for opponents. The whole likes of the “Big Blue Nation” would be thrilled and the team would be given a boost with Diallo on the floor.

If Diallo chooses to remain after this year, he’d be an even better player and a  leader for the team come the 2017-18 season after garnering some experience.

Yet, the 2017 recruiting class is one that is loaded. The Kentucky Wildcats have several promising young recruits already; a class that Diallo was meant to be a part of. With him playing in addition to the other incoming freshman, UK will be hard to beat. If Diallo does play this year, the experience factor will make him a leader and a difference maker in the class.

However that sounds for Kentucky fans, it’s very hard to get an 18-year-old kid to turn down a multi-million dollar contract. The current rules require players to stay in college for one season before entering the NBA draft, and his early enrollment makes him eligible for the draft this June. With such a high recruiting status, he would likely be a top 15 choice, perhaps even earlier if a team in need of a shooting guard possesses an early selection. The question that needs to be addressed is whether or not this half season alone will be enough experience to make the jump to the professional level.

In the end, only time will tell what is to become of Diallo. Although he is expected to redshirt this year and return for the 2017-18 season, the alternative decisions loom. The decision of whether or not to play again next season will be left in the hands of the talented young basketball player. Diallo is expected to be dressed and on the bench in upcoming games.