Diallo Enjoys Kentucky Visit, Says Five are Working Hardest

By ADAM ZAGORIA & JOHN PAVIA

Cheick Diallo, the 6-9 Our Savior New American big man, enjoyed his visit to Kentucky which ended Monday, and says five schools are pursuing him the hardest.

Diallo said Kentucky, Kansas, St. John’s, Pittsburgh and Iowa State are working the hardest for his services, and he plans to visit those schools in the coming weeks.

Kentucky coach John Calipari said that he likes Diallo’s athleticism and ability to run the floor. Diallo also had a chance to speak with incoming point guard Tyler Ulis. 

“The visit went well and Coach Cal said how good the program is going to be for me and how I can fit the system,” Diallo told SNY.tv by phone.

Former Pittsburgh assistant Barry “Slice” Rohrssen is now an assistant at Kentucky, and has had a strong relationship with Diallo since his time at Pittsburgh.

When asked if he sees himself as a one-and-done, Diallo, who has been compared to Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder, said, “Of course, yes. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Thus, Kentucky could be an ideal fit for him.

Kentucky has a slew of future NBA bigs returning next season — including Willie Cauley-Stein, Dakari Johnson and Alex Poythress, as well as incoming Karl-Anthony Towns and Trey Lyles — several of whom are likely to leave for the NBA after next season.

Diallo plans to set visit dates by next week for trips to Iowa State, St. John’s and Kansas in that order.

He then plans to cut his list after this summer.