Hamidou Diallo’s decision to pass on playing 5-on-5 games at the Draft Combine may have actually helped his stock, Adam Zagoria of the New York Times reports. Diallo didn’t play after enrolling at Kentucky in January and was advised to sit out the 5-on-5 games, Zagoria continues. Wildcats coach John Calipari said that by remaining a sort of mystery man, Diallo has made himself more intriguing, as he expressed to Zagoria and media members. “They all like you without watching you. Good,” Calipari said. “The more you don’t play, the more they like you, the more they’re impressed.” The 6’5” shooting guard is currently rated No. 38 by DraftExpress and No. 35 by ESPN’s Chad Ford.
In other draft-related developments:
- Purdue forward Caleb Swanigan isn’t sure if he’ll remain in the draft, he told Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star and other media members. Swanigan worked out with the Pacers on Monday. “It’s really hard,” Swanigan said of his impending decision. He’s currently ranked No. 29 by DraftExpress and No. 31 by Ford.
- The Lakers stand out as the team that could lose the most in Tuesday’s draft lottery because of their trade obligations, as ESPN’s Ford and Kevin Pelton discuss. The Sixers could be the biggest winners with the opportunity to land two of the top four picks, as the duo explains. The Magic are another team with plenty at stake, according to Pelton, as they could lose a future first-rounder owed by Lakers and have to settle for a couple of second-round picks.
- Participating in the Draft Combine last year helped North Carolina’s Justin Jackson, as he expressed to Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders. Jackson, a junior, has seen his stock rise dramatically after returning to school for his junior season as he credits the Combine for helping him improve his game. “The feedback I got last year… I took that extremely serious,” he told Hamilton. Jackson, a 6’8” swingman, is expected to be a mid- to late-first rounder. He’s ranked No 13 by DraftExpress and No. 25 by Ford.
Calipari’s comment is about the dumbest thing I have heard in regards to a draft prospect. “The more you don’t play, the more they like you”? If any team is abiding by that strategy then they deserve what they get!
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dante Exum, Emmanuel Mudiay and Thon Maker. He saw it first hand with Enes Kanter. He isn’t wrong, the unknown can be tantalizing
I think it may have been an observation of his draft stock. His draft stock has risen and he hasn’t played…its at a high enough point that playing may harm it.