3 Hamidou Diallo

Hamidou Diallo was born July 31, 1998, in Queens, New York, the son of Marima and Abdoulaye Diallo. An athletic 6-foot-5 guard, he became one of the nation’s leading prospects at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, where he averaged 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists as a senior while leading the Mustangs to a 38-3 record. A two-time all-state selection and the nation’s top-ranked shooting guard by several recruiting services, Diallo also helped the United States win gold at the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship before choosing Kentucky over UConn, Kansas, Indiana, Syracuse and Arizona.

Diallo graduated early and enrolled at Kentucky midway through the 2016-17 season. Although eligible to play, he spent the remainder of that year developing in practice before starting all 37 games for the Wildcats in 2017-18. His explosiveness and defensive potential made him an important part of a young Kentucky team that won the SEC Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen. Diallo averaged 10.0 points and 3.6 rebounds, scored in double figures 16 times and earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after producing 20 points and three steals against Virginia Tech.

His finest Kentucky performance came in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Buffalo, when he scored 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added two blocked shots in a 95-75 victory. The performance showcased the athletic ability that later made him a second-round selection in the 2018 NBA Draft. Diallo played professionally for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons and became nationally known by winning the 2019 NBA Slam Dunk Contest during his rookie season.