Hamidou Diallo says no NBA Draft decision has been made; shines with unreal vertical and wingspan

Hamidou Diallo is doing and saying all the right things at the NBA Draft Combine.

The doing involves Diallo recording the highest vertical jump, which was an eye-opening 44.5 inches. It’s the second-highest vertical in combine history behind Kenny Gregory (45.5 inches).

Diallo also opened eyes with his 6’11.25-inch wingspan, the longest of any guard at this combine, and one of the best ever recorded at the event.

The guys at DraftExpress had a favorable review of Diallo’s performance thus far:

Potential preps to pros prospect Hamidou Diallo, who took a detour to Kentucky before re-emerging here, measured 6'5 in shoes with a 6'11.25 wingspan at 197 pounds. Diallo has gained some 10 pounds since last summer, a good sign for the still lean 18-year-old, and his wingspan would rank him among the longest shooting guard prospects in our database all-time whenever he opts to stay in the draft.

But even with his great combine showing, Diallo still hasn’t made a decision as to whether stay in the draft or re-join the Kentucky Wildcats.

“It’s just been a difficult process,” Diallo said during a TV interview with ESPN. “I ended up trying to do this because the coaching staff at Kentucky guided me through this process.

“I thought this was the best thing for me to do, test the waters and see where I stand. If now is the time, then so be it. But I wouldn’t mind going back to the University of Kentucky. I’m still leaving both doors open.”

That ‘I wouldn’t mind’ line would seem to indicate he doesn’t exactly want to return to UK, though who could blame him. He was already getting first-round hype before the combine, and he’s only boosted his stock at the event, enough that he may now be locked into being a first-round pick.

The good news is Diallo has his teammates and coaches’ support:

I thought coming into the combine that Diallo was leaning towards staying in the draft, and his performance only reinforces that belief. Someone is bound to take a shot on him late in the first round, and that chance seems to be all Diallo wants.

Good thing UK got Kevin Knox and may get Cam Johnson.