Kansas Freshman Cheick Diallo to Test NBA Draft Waters

Kansas freshman forward Cheick Diallo will test the NBA Draft waters but won’t hire an agent, multiple sources confirmed to SNY.tv.

The Mali native could return to campus if he doesn’t hire an agent.

The 6-foot-9 Diallo is the projected No. 36 pick by DraftExpress.com.

“He’s raw but his potential is worth the gamble,” one source close to Diallo said he was told by multiple NBA executives.

One NBA executive told SNY.tv: “He will get drafted but he could be in a much better position if he stayed another year to develop. He is headed to the D-League if he stays in the Draft.”

Diallo was the MVP of the 2015 McDonald’s All-American Game out of Our Savior New American, but played a limited role for Kansas this season. He averaged just 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game. He did not play at all in Kansas’ last three NCAA Tournament games.

The news was previously reported by ESPN and other outlets.

Written by Adam Zagoria

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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.