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Hamidou Diallo’s path to Kentucky has been an intriguing one to say the least.
After beginning the 2016-17 season as a senior at Putnam Science Academy, Diallo is now a freshman for the 15th-ranked Wildcats heading into Saturday’s clash with Alabama.
Ahead of the game, Diallo spoke with the media for the first time since coming to UK as a mid-year enrollee in January. Here is a video recap of what he had to say, courtesy of Kentucky Wildcats TV:
And here is a transcript of everything Diallo said, courtesy of UK Athletics:
On how it’s going so far …
“It’s been going great.”
On how far behind he felt coming in midseason …
“A lot behind. Guys have been here almost for—I don’t know the exact amount of months, but they’ve been here for a long time just working together during the summer and through the first semester. So, quite a bit behind, but I’ve been getting the hang of things.”
On whether he’s tempted to play when he sees the team struggle …
“I mean, me and Coach had spoke. I came in with a certain plan, so the biggest thing for me is just sticking to that plan and just preparing. This semester is just preparing me for next year, for the most part.”
On whether that’s been difficult to do …
“It’s been hard to do, but it’s a plan that I have thought about, well thought about before coming. So it’s a plan I think is best for me to stick to.”
On whether he can already feel the value of it …
“Oh yeah, definitely. Coming in, Coach told me that this was going to be tough. And I’m right now -- I’m just witnessing it firsthand. It’s been very tough and every day, day in and day out, is just a tough battle. Teams are playing so hard against us, so I’m just seeing it firsthand. It’s a learning experience.”
On the difference between living in Queens vs. Lexington …
“Living here versus Queens, it’s very different, first off. Queens is a city that—everything’s always moving. Everything’s always open. Out here, everything is just a little bit slowed down and things like that. But it’s been a great adjustment.”
On how he can help this team right now …
“I would (say) just competing with them in practice. Coach just wants me to go at Malik (Monk), Isaiah (Briscoe) and De’Aaron (Fox) every day in practice and just make them better players. And just try to help them and prepare them for the tasks that they’re going to have when they go out there and play against those other guys.”
On who the toughest guy to defend is …
“They’re all great players. They all do different things well, so they’re all tough to guard I would say.”
On who the toughest player for him to guard is …
“Nobody’s really that difficult for me to guard, honestly. They’re all good players and I’m a good defender. So we just match up pretty well with each other.”
On whether defense is his strength right now …
“I just feel like I’m good at defense. I wouldn’t say that’s my strength though.”
On how he would describe his game and which players he’s similar to …
“I honestly couldn’t tell you one player, but my game is—I’m a two-way type of player. I like to defend and I feel like defense brings offense. I just love to defend and when I defend my offense gets going and that’s when I can just be a great player.”
On whether he remembers a day that opened his eyes to how difficult this might be …
“Yeah, definitely. First day, just conditioning and things like that. Just getting used to everything has definitely been tough, for sure.”
On whether he’s had any days when he felt like he was turning a corner …
“Yeah, definitely. From the first day I came until now, it’s been a big change. I’m getting the hang of things a little bit, but I’m still trying to learn everything. It’s a lot to learn in just a couple weeks, maybe a month.”
On the biggest lesson he’s learned at UK …
“The biggest lesson I learned? Just staying focused and working hard. That’s pretty much it.”
On who’s put him under their wing and shown him around …
“Pretty much the three guards because I’m a guard as well. So, pretty much Isaiah (Briscoe), Malik (Monk) and De’Aaron (Fox). They’ve been showing me the ropes in practice, showing me how things are done and when I mess up just guiding me so I won’t mess up the next play. Things like that.”
On how much this week of intense practices has helped …
“It helped me a lot because coming in Coach told me it was going to be tough. Right now I’m seeing it in practice first hand. Practice has been tough the last couple days. It’s good because it’s getting the guys back together and getting them prepared for games they’re going to have coming up.”
On if he’s dunked on anyone yet …
“Have I dunked on anybody? Nah.”
On if he’d tell the media if he had dunked on somebody …
“Yeah, I would have told you.”
On if anyone has dunked on him …
“Nah, I don’t get dunked on.”
On what part of his game needs the most work …
“I feel like I’m just working on every part of my game to be honest. Just working on strength, quickness and things on the court. Just lateral speed, ball handling, shooting. Just working on a whole lot of things. I wouldn’t be able to tell you I’m working on one certain part.”
On if he’s thinking about this summer’s NBA Draft …
“Coming in, the plan for me was to get prepared for next year, so that’s the plan me and Coach Cal are sticking to right now. When the season ends me and Coach Cal will sit down and have a talk about that.”
On what he’s absorbing about the process from the bench …
“Just seeing the mistakes that they make and trying to learn from them. Seeing mistakes and then seeing the good things that they do as well and trying to learn how I can put that into my game maybe.”
On if he’s recruiting anyone for next year …
“Definitely active. I’ve been trying to recruit a couple guys. We just had a couple guys on campus. But definitely trying to land a couple more pieces to get prepared for next year for sure.”
On if next year’s group talks to each other a lot, especially him already being on campus …
“Yeah, definitely. We speak a lot. We just talk about (how we) can’t wait to play with each other next year. Things like that. The guys are just anxious to get up here and get it going.”
On what he thinks of all the attention UK players receive for everything they do …
“It just shows you that the stage that we’re on is a different type of stage. Night in and night out you just gotta be the best version of yourself.”
On if it’s surprising to have so many people take pictures of him and if he’s had any encounters with fans …
“Not really surprising. I’ve seen it. New York is pretty much – it’s not the same, but it’s pretty much the same. I mean, people have fans everywhere. We’re just blessed to have the fans that we have.”
On how many times he’s been asked by people around town whether he will play or not …
“I couldn’t be able to tell you a number.”
On what he tells those fans …
“I mean, I just tell them ‘I don’t know at this point,’ because me telling them the whole story would take a lot of time I’d say.”
On if he’s aware of any other guards from New York who have gone to Kentucky …
“I was aware of it, but I’m not really close with any of them. They were different age groups, so I haven’t really spoken to any of them.”