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Diallo Entering Draft... Not hiring agent

I don't believe at all that Cal refused to play him. I think Diallo planned all along to declare and that's the reason he never played. He didn't want to do what Giles ended up doing and hurting his stock by playing when he wasn't ready. I also thought he would likely come back but now I think he stays in. The timing, his tweet etc. Wonder when we'll see updated draft projections that would include him?
 
I think that's where things will bring out the knives among fans. If he does in fact stay in the draft, it means we had a kid come to campus for one semester, benefit from the resources, and leave without logging a single minute (by his request). I guess you could say he helped us in practice, but would that help for half a season justify what he as a player was given? Debatable. Either way, this thread will be endless


But if he stays we have the #1SG in the class with a half year's experience...and it cost us nothing. UK can afford to share resources with a potential player.

Just have to wait and see. I hope he surprises me. If he stays in the draft, I think some second guessing the situation from fans is fair. OTOH, if I'm his parents, I'm thrilled be did what he did
 
This was always his plan and he was never going to play this past year when he enrolled early. His holes in his game were starting to show while playing at PSA that's why he left mid season and wanted to hide and not play so scouts wouldn't see him getting more exposed. He's extremely talented but his shooting will be what makes or breaks him.

Sucks for Kentucky fans to have to deal with him using the school to train and not play but Cal knew the deal when he signed/recruited him. He was never playing and going to enter the draft now it's time to see if he stays in it
 
Cal saying he improved a ton in no way correlates to him being ready to play in the f'ing Elite 8 against Justin Jackson. Good Lord. Some of you deserve to agonize over this nonsense. You really do. I have no idea how you function in daily life with real stress.


Besides, WTF do you think Cal is supposed to say? "Well, he's pure shit and isn't ready but he's putting his name in anyway." We crush other coaches for talking down their own guys, and rightfully so. This is how you recruit the best of the best.

Again, everyone involved has known this was always the plan. We know Cal agreed to take him with the understanding he'd get feedback and return. Cal is standing by his guy. How some of you don't see the writing on the wall just baffles me.
 
If he is this good he should have and would have played

The kid didn't want any weaknesses exposed by playing.

He wanted at least a small chance of entering this year's draft.

I'm happy that high level recruits think that just practicing for a semester with Calipari/UK could get them a higher draft slot.
 
Not even sign him. Lol. Now dude will get a completely free education anytime in his life he needs it, and for what?


Like you are really that concerned with the free ride... UK gives out a thousand of those every year..

I get the frustration but no need to blame this on anyone.

How is the boy doing by the way?
 
Like others, I'm struggling to decide how I feel about this. I dig the players first approach, but his presence probably affected the decisions of others, both encouraging and discouraging commitments. We will never know if Hami's name on the roster stopped us from landing a kid like Lonnie Walker or Trae Young, or if he decides to remain in the draft whether it will affect our chances with Bamba. What does this mean for Quade Green's general enthusiasm going forward? All I do know right now is that I'm thanking God SGA turned out to be better than advertised.
 
Also, did he not promise Cal he would stay as a condition of coming to UK?

The plan was to sit him out this year and get him ready to play (for UK, in college) next season, yes.

But, plans change I suppose. Now, this could be him just testing the waters like it says in order to get feedback, or it could be him bouncing after half a season and no games played. The thing is, I just find it hard to believe there isn't some NBA GM that will be blown away by his athleticism and length at the guard spot. I don't know what he'll do, but I think anyone that says they feel confident that he's just doing this for feedback and will return no matter what they tell him is lying to themselves. This is going to be a close call either way.
 
This was always his plan and he was never going to play this past year when he enrolled early. His holes in his game were starting to show while playing at PSA that's why he left mid season and wanted to hide and not play so scouts wouldn't see him getting more exposed. He's extremely talented but his shooting will be what makes or breaks him.

Sucks for Kentucky fans to have to deal with him using the school to train and not play but Cal knew the deal when he signed/recruited him. He was never playing and going to enter the draft now it's time to see if he stays in it
It doesn't suck at all. Now being a UConn fan on the other hand, would suck right now. Your program is finished.
 
Why is everyone becoming anti cal? I'm upset that he is going because I was pumped to see him play. But there was always a chance. For all we know he's just seeing what he needs to work on. It's like any of us going to a job interview and finding out that you need more experience and improve in certain areas, then getting the job later because you accomplished those.
 
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Why is everyone becoming anti cal? I'm upset that he is going because I was pumped to see him play. But there was always a chance. For all we know he's just seeing what he needs to work on. It's like any of us going to a job interview and finding out that you need more experience and improve in certain areas, then getting the job later because you accomplished those.
Because the trolls have to have something to bitch about.
 
Boy, these threads always bring out the trolls.

yep.... and the bandwagon fans, cry babies, and just plain dumbasses. Even without Diallo this class is 3X better than any class their beloved Tubby ever signed. If these idiots are really UK fans they are some of the worst fans in sports....
 
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I am getting a little tired of being used....I wish it were UK first



I understand your point, but if Cal makes it about himself or UK, two-thirds of these guys never come to Kentucky.

Plus, in three weeks when Diallo likely pulls out of the draft, we’ll once-more understand that this program is successful because of processes like this.
 
Well, if he doesn't come back our starting backcourt will be interesting. We'll go from Fox/Monk to Green/Baker or Green/Alexander.

No Bamba and it may be an interesting year. Gotta see how it all plays out.
 
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Cal had guys like Lee enter the draft last year just to gauge where they'd stand from an NBA- standpoint. It actually helped many of them in terms of feedback and areas of improvement. I bet Diallo is overwhelmingly favoring a return to UK right now. It certainly doesn't hurt to enter the draft, although I know as fans we'd all like our peace of mind.

This is likely the same thing. If, however Diallo stays in after hearing negative advice from scouts, wake me up next March when it's time for the tournament. I'll probably try skipping the "growing process" for once. That's not a slight against Cal or the system as much as it is a slight against what will likely be my lack of enthusiasm about a Diallo-less UK team. All we've heard since January was how Cal told him, "Don't come here if you won't be here in '17-18." If UK becomes a haven for guys who want to practice against other NBA-level guys for a semester, only to bolt before actually playing here, yes, my enthusiasm will likely decrease somewhat. I'll still support Cal and his system; I'll just consider spending portions of my time elsewhere next season.

I'll always be loyal to UK, and I won't complain about the process (I actually love the OAD system), but if our program loses three guys early who all received word to return? That would probably be the type of thing that would just make me consider spending my leisure time elsewhere until it actually mattered within the season. Losing one guy that way is bothersome, but expected; losing two that way has happened before; losing three that way is just deflating.

I say he returns, however. It's logical. He's a potential lottery pick next season - something Humphries and Briscoe never had a real shot at.
This is nothing like Lee. Diallo is a superstar in the making. I've repeatedly told everyone in multiple posts what I thought was going to happen. His statement confirmed it almost exactly. I hate to be right this time, but I'm afraid I will be. I'd say he is 90% gone with the small hope that he fails to impress them in workouts.

He has already received evaluations from the NBA. He was told to work on his shot and his team play. As he said in his post, his game has really grown since he's been here. Thanking the coaches and players for helping hm chase his dreams says pretty much everything. Brian won't agree with me but I still say Cal has some explaing to do in this if Diallo leaves.

UK is NOT an NBA prep camp for guys who never intend to play here. That is exactly what I think Diallo did. He is a clever young man. He got to have his cake and eat it too.
 
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Like I said, if Cal really came to him he would have played. You can't tell me he wouldn't have. Maybe at the beginning of his time here. But you can't tell me before the sec tournament he would have turned down playing time.

Yes, we can. The kid came here to help his draft stock, just like every other player in the top 300.

He was never going to jump in on the biggest stages of the year against seasoned guys with zero game action. He'd have looked awful and hurt the team and his stock.

Remember how our guys grow from October to March? How ugly it is in the exhibition and directional school games? Why would either party want that? Plus, everyone would have killed Cal for taking minutes from Dom and Willis. You're just complaining in hindsight.
 
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Like you are really that concerned with the free ride... UK gives out a thousand of those every year..

I get the frustration but no need to blame this on anyone.

How is the boy doing by the way?

It's frustrating to say the least, when people are continuously getting top talent to return and we can't even get a player with ZERO minutes played to return, it's absolutely unreal.

He's good, turns 3 in a couple weeks and big as hell lol. How is your gang doing?
 
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Let the process play out with Diallo, if he stays in the draft and gets the feedback he needs, to stay in, then Coach Cal, will be asked why didn't you play the kid and that question just won't come from message boards only.
 
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