OT - Hamidou Diallo testing Draft Waters
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Fishy
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You were able to follow that exchange?
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Posters that say "I wish him nothing but the best." make me want to vomit. I want him to crash and burn (not literally of course.).
Agreed, the game he played with the staff, players, and the university during his recruitment was absolutey attrocious. What goes around comes around and karma can be a huugeeeeeeeee bitch, we'll look back on him one day and laugh that we ever gave this kid any amount of time.
If you couldn't already tell I'm still very salty about this whole thing.
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Well played, per usual, Fleudslipcon. As I stated, your rationality combined with your introspection is much appreciated.
The way this particular situation is playing out though... Hamidou and his handlers have exposed themselves for what their plan was all along. And I do not hold that against him or them. He has every right to take the path he believes gives him the best chance to get a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract, whether we all feel it does or does not serve his best interests long term (or UConn's interest in the immediate term). I am also not coming from a place of anger or hate, saying he "screwed us". Could he have been more honest? Yes. But we are talking about an 18 year-old kid here who has stated on multiple occasions that his goal is to play in the NBA. He is definitely following what he believes to be the path of least resistance to reaching that stated goal.
The truth is that we did not lose Hamidou because either Kevin Ollie or Glen Miller are not good enough recruiters. Once Calipari offered him a scholly, he was going to Calipari. Not because Calipari will always beat us for every recruit (most he will, but not all). But because he will almost always beat us for this type of recruit with the goals and mindset that Hami has. Go read his statement that was used to start this thread. He spells it out.
Here is a very plausible scenario for you: we emphasized to Hami his ability to be a star here for the next several years and then go as a potential lottery pick. Calipari sold him on his well-established "Succeed and Proceed" program. Knowing what we know now, which one was he choosing? Honestly, we had practically zero chance with THIS particular player once Calipari offered him, and showed him his plan for getting him to the NBA as soon as possible. Kevin Ollie was not getting him, Glen Miller was not getting him and frankly neither would have Jim Calhoun.
The way this particular situation is playing out though... Hamidou and his handlers have exposed themselves for what their plan was all along. And I do not hold that against him or them. He has every right to take the path he believes gives him the best chance to get a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract, whether we all feel it does or does not serve his best interests long term (or UConn's interest in the immediate term). I am also not coming from a place of anger or hate, saying he "screwed us". Could he have been more honest? Yes. But we are talking about an 18 year-old kid here who has stated on multiple occasions that his goal is to play in the NBA. He is definitely following what he believes to be the path of least resistance to reaching that stated goal.
The truth is that we did not lose Hamidou because either Kevin Ollie or Glen Miller are not good enough recruiters. Once Calipari offered him a scholly, he was going to Calipari. Not because Calipari will always beat us for every recruit (most he will, but not all). But because he will almost always beat us for this type of recruit with the goals and mindset that Hami has. Go read his statement that was used to start this thread. He spells it out.
Here is a very plausible scenario for you: we emphasized to Hami his ability to be a star here for the next several years and then go as a potential lottery pick. Calipari sold him on his well-established "Succeed and Proceed" program. Knowing what we know now, which one was he choosing? Honestly, we had practically zero chance with THIS particular player once Calipari offered him, and showed him his plan for getting him to the NBA as soon as possible. Kevin Ollie was not getting him, Glen Miller was not getting him and frankly neither would have Jim Calhoun.
intlzncster
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Posters that say "I wish him nothing but the best." make me want to vomit. I want him to crash and burn (not literally of course.
I reserve most (read: all) of my dislike for Cal and the whole system. Diallo's a kid trying to maximize his chance to make money. Can't fault him much, if we don't know to what extent he was telling UCONN he was coming. It wouldn't be the first time that staff got caught off guard.
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intlzncster
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I don't even count it as a swing and miss at all, despite posters' protestations to the opposite. Where Ollie and Glen did fail, was reading the writing on the wall. The extent to which they were 'out of touch' is worrisome.
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This entire thing is about exposure. Hamidou couldn't afford to play college ball during the regular season and give teams 10-15 game films of the inefficiencies in his game.
But he also knew there's no shot he gets drafted out of Putnam Science given the lack of exposure with Scouts.
So he decides to showcase his talents in Kentucky practices against players likely moving at 75-80% speed. Allows him to show out and develop a reputation as a player.
Its a little cowardice... why wouldnt you want to go out and prove yourself against the best. Think its a character flaw and red flag...
Cant wait til he finally gets exposed
But he also knew there's no shot he gets drafted out of Putnam Science given the lack of exposure with Scouts.
So he decides to showcase his talents in Kentucky practices against players likely moving at 75-80% speed. Allows him to show out and develop a reputation as a player.
Its a little cowardice... why wouldnt you want to go out and prove yourself against the best. Think its a character flaw and red flag...
Cant wait til he finally gets exposed
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you using your Jerry Crystal Ball with that assessment? Who says he goes lottery?? And even if he does, lottery + out of the league in 3yrs would be cooke-esque.
the comparison is more about attitude and approach. if im one of the best players in the draft, im not hiding on a practice court. id be out there busting my butt when it mattered to showcase my skill, flaws and all.
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No I am using mock drafts. Try them. Or use the internet: ""He'd be a first-round pick if he stays in [the draft]," an NBA scout told CBS Sports on Sunday."
Your comment about attitude and approach is laughable (almost as laughable as him being out of the league in 3 years). He is draft eligible, but you think he has a bad attitude because he does not want to go to UK and play for free and go to school for a year over making millions of dollars? No its called hes not an idiot.
Cooke never played in an NBA game. Just stop with this comparison its horrible.
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Yea, because Mock Drafts are always so accurate... and because being a "fringe lottery" selection is always so indicative of future success.
How can you disageee with his actions this year being a reflection of his attitude and approach? he was eligible this year but instead of playing, he hid at Putnam for the first semester and then at a UK practice facility
All because his handlers and him knew he had a better shot of being initially drafted if he wasn't exposed. he wasted a key year of major development and a great opportunity so he could sit on a bench.
It might help his draft position right now, but it won't help in the long run. ill take the kid who wants to play, and shows a work ethic and attitude to want to get better - his own coach alluded to that. you can draft the guy hiding in the locker room based on some mock draft
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intlzncster
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He's basically like a slightly shorter Gerald Green (who went 18) coming out no? Or is that a bad comparison?
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Yes because of the other guys we lost because of it
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Since you edited the above and used a quote to strengthen your argument... here's one for you from the last person to coach him in an organized basketball game just a few months ago
“Hami had a lot going on, and typical Hamidou, he didn’t show up for all of the games. He’s still growing as a person and, at times, he wasn’t mentally tough enough in games. He struggled,” Espinosa said.
He often got into foul trouble and even had a run-in with Espinosa that resulted in him being benched.
Given the circumstances, Diallo’s decision to go to Kentucky, rather than finish the year in Putnam, is best for everyone involved.
“He was not coming mentally prepared every day because he had so much going on, that started to get to me because it started to affect the team. I’m not going to miss that part. It wasn’t fun.” Espinosa said. “I think it was time for Hamidou to move on. If he decided to come back, it wasn’t going to be good. He could have been thinking I should have gone to Kentucky or UConn. What am I doing here? I think it probably would have been a battle for him every day to come in focused and mentally ready.”
Sounds like a great locker room guy... True leader
CTBasketball
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Yes we still swung and missed on him. We could have been recruiting other players with all the time we had.
Diallo probably knows his shot and overall inefficiencies outside of his athleticism will plummet him into the 2R if he plays the 17/18 season at UK. The dude is selling high, can't blame him for that.
Diallo probably knows his shot and overall inefficiencies outside of his athleticism will plummet him into the 2R if he plays the 17/18 season at UK. The dude is selling high, can't blame him for that.
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If the kid believes he can't show well against college competition, why should an NBA GM believe he'll show well against NBA competition?
It would be insane to draft him in the first round. The kids who fear competition are exactly the ones who need to be exposed to it.
It would be insane to draft him in the first round. The kids who fear competition are exactly the ones who need to be exposed to it.
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Your points are fine, but they have nothing to do with the Lenny Cooke comparison. Cooke was not drafted. Never played in the NBA. Horrible comparison. The Gerlad Green comparison is much better, great athlete, lotta of questions about desire and being raw, will kick around the NBA for a bunch of years, and may or may not develop into a good player at that level.
No one said where someone is drafted is indicative of future success. The point is he is not Lenny Cooke who again went undrafted.
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Again, the comparison was purely based on attitude and approach - especially these past two years. Cooke also loved the spotlight, listened to the wrong people, and attempted to take an easier route to the NBA because he thought he 'should' be playing in he league.
Would be silly for either of us to predict where he'll be in 3years. But if he doesn't mature and become a professional soon, I don't think it's unrealistic to think he won't be in the NBA after his guaranteed rookie contract.
We all wanted him in a Huskies uniform - mostly because of the time, money, and effort spent recruiting him and his potential. This turned into a blessing in disguise - it might have really forced the AD to look at Ollie if Hamidou pulled this off at UConn during this particular offseason.
intlzncster
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I still think Waters is thinking of showcasing his talent for a year in order to get picked up by one of the big boys. jmo tho
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Well, sort of, in that our pursuit of Hami led to us missing on other players who would be here now if we figured out sooner we weren't even going to get him to enroll in summer camp here (Bruce Brown, for instance).
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Waters isn't good enough to be a 1 and done IMO if that is what you mean. He would e nice to get but what we really need is a beefy big and a shooter.
intlzncster
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Not what I meant. I was implying he wanted to go somewhere to be THE guy and showcase his skills. So that he could transfer to one of the big boy schools he really wants to go to. The idea being, they see how good he is, and sign him up.
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If that's his plan, it's foolish. The top programs rarely take transfers in, because then they have to use 4 years of scholarship to get 3 years of player or 3 years of scholarship to get 2 years. It is like a self-imposed scholarship reduction. If he's not getting offers from Duke or Kentucky as a high school senior, he shouldn't expect to get one as a transfer. They have taken a good luck at him and decided to pass; it's more than likely they'll decide the same later on.
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That logic makes no sense. Why would someone like waters want to showcase his skills with the goal of sitting out a year?
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Usually you're my guy, but can't say I agree here.
That would imply his plan to play for a year, and then be forced to sit out a full year before stepping back on the court.
Nothing about his recruitment indicates he's willing to be that patient with his development. If chatter is correct and he wants to start day1, doubt he's that patient.
It's unfortunate. Most of these kids get led the wrong direction by their fathers (oriakhi, soon to be Vance) or the Ed Smiths of the world (ater). While they are certainly well intentioned parents, they fail to realize they have the most biased and non neutral opinions on the planet when evaluating their son.
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As opposed to message board posters. I'm not sure you're the guy to be making these points - you're drawing all sorts of conclusions about a kid you've never met based on some pretty convoluted speculation.
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My conclusions, specifically on well intentioned parents leading their influential teenagers down a poor road, was based on the examples I gave. Oriakhi. Soon to be Vance.
But you're right. I don't know any of these kids personally. And these are less personal attacks and speak more to the general state of college basketball, social media, and society in general.
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If you're talking about my comments on Hamidou, that's based on coaches comments, his well publicized recruiting process, and his decisions over the past 6 months.
If you're referring to Ater Majok and Alex O, it's based on Ed Smith gassing him up to declare before he was ready so he could cash in - only to have Ater flame out.
Oriakhi's pops clearly thought he was the 2nd coming of Demarcus Cousins and felt Calhoun was unfairly tough on him.
I don't need to know these kids personally to draw conclusions on how their basketball careers turned out based on poor advice
If you're referring to Ater Majok and Alex O, it's based on Ed Smith gassing him up to declare before he was ready so he could cash in - only to have Ater flame out.
Oriakhi's pops clearly thought he was the 2nd coming of Demarcus Cousins and felt Calhoun was unfairly tough on him.
I don't need to know these kids personally to draw conclusions on how their basketball careers turned out based on poor advice
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