UK announces 5 players attending NBA Combine, including Hamidou Diallo

The Kentucky Wildcats have five players expected to attend the 2018 NBA Draft Combine, the school announced Monday.

Redshirt freshman guard Hamidou Diallo, freshman guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, freshman wing Kevin Knox, freshman forward Jarred Vanderbilt and freshman forward PJ Washington were on the 69-man attendee list that the NBA released Monday.

There was a report that Diallo planned to decline his invite to the combine, but seeing his name on the list released today suggests he will attend after all. That’s the smart move on his part, as he has a lot of work to do in convincing NBA personnel he’s worthy of a late first or early second-round pick, which should help him get a guaranteed contract.

The combine is a great opportunity for players to meet with teams and show what they’re capable of in 5-on-5 competitions at the event. Athletes attend by invitation only from the NBA based on the feedback and requests from the 30 NBA teams.

That’s why Diallo passing on the combine would have been a bad move. Even if he doesn’t compete, the combine is a great chance for him to meet face to face with all 30 NBA teams and begin to show them why he’s worthy of a draft pick this year.

UK is tied with the Duke Blue Devils and Kansas Jayhawks for the most players from one school on the expected attendees list.

ESPN2 will televise parts of the NBA Draft Combine on May 17 and May 18 from 3-7 p.m. EST. The annual NBA Draft will be held June 21 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.