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Hamidou Diallo says “as of now I want to go to college”

Hamidou Diallo is arguably the most coveted shooting guard in the Class of 2017.

The Putnam Science Academy (Connecticut) product holds offers from the likes of Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, UConn, Arizona, and pretty much every other high-major program you can think of. Of course, the 6-foot-5 high-flyer is also on the radar of NBA franchises.

Diallo, a Queens native, reclassified to the Class of 2017 when he arrived on the prep school campus several years ago. He graduated this past spring and is currently in a postgraduate year at the same institution. This means he is one year removed from his graduating class, which means he could throw his name in to the 2017 NBA Draft.

However, according to Evan Daniels of Scout.com, Diallo’s current plan is to head to college, where he will likely be a one-and-done.

“It’s definitely something that I’m going to look into,” Diallo said when asked about the draft. “It’s my ultimate goal and I don’t feel like it would hurt me looking into. But as of now I want to go to college.”

Diallo’s possibility to go pro this spring have likely gained traction since this past June, when Thon Maker, another postgraduate prep prospect, was selected 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. Skal Labissiere was rated as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2015 and pegged as the a potential top pick entering the 2015-16 season. His struggles to adjust to the college game were well-documented, and when draft night came, he fell 18 spots behind Maker.

Their draft day tales will likely be intertwined for quite some time, as it ignited a discussion about whether prospects, like those in Diallo’s situation, are better suited to jump right to the NBA instead of avoiding of year of college and potentially failing to live up to the hype.

That’s not to say Diallo wouldn’t excel in what would perhaps be his lone college season. The events of last June’s draft shows just show that there can be a lucrative option by heading straight to the NBA. However, it could also be just a cautionary tale of a short-term gain. Thon Maker is reaping the financial benefits of being a lottery pick, but let’s wait and see where he is if/when it’s time to re-up a new deal.

Diallo is rated as the 10th best player in the Class of 2017. He spent the spring and summer playing for the New York Rens in the Nike EYBL. He averaged 19.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 20 appearances.