Queens’ Diallo might be a none-and-done
CHICAGO — Kentucky coach John Calipari vowed to retire if Queens guard Hamidou Diallo gets drafted late in the lottery. There would be nothing left to do as college basketball’s premier NBA-prospect whisperer.
Diallo, who hasn’t played a college game since enrolling at Kentucky in January, is just happy to practice with the Wildcats. He had spent one post-high school graduate year playing for Putnam Science in Connecticut.
The 18-year-old surprisingly declared for the NBA draft but hasn’t hired an agent and can withdraw. He attended the scouting combine in Chicago but decided not to play in the five-on-five games. Diallo did the skills drills and measurements, logging the second-highest mark in combine history in the max vertical leap (44 ½ inches).
He can leap out of the gym, but can he also leap into the late lottery?
Calipari, whose mantra is to never tell a player not to declare, said he was OK with Diallo’s decision not to play the five-on-five combine games.
“They don’t know — don’t show them,’’ Calipari said. “They like you without watching you. The more you don’t play, the more they like you. The more they’re impressed. So don’t play. Someone takes him in the lottery, I’ll retire. Four months at Kentucky, doesn’t play, lottery pick. I’m done. I’m stopping.’’
Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox gave a more thorough scouting report from dealing with Diallo in practices.
“He’s tough, from [Queens], all New York guards are like that,’’ Fox said. “His ball skills are better than I thought. He can shoot the ball but has to shoot the ball better from the NBA 3. He’s extremely strong, a great defender. Ask me what was harder practice or games? Practices were a lot tougher than games.’’
Diallo said he hasn’t met with the Knicks yet. They also have two secondround picks, but the team’s obvious concern would be with his basketball IQ since they haven’t seen him enough.
Calipari has crafted 18 “one-and-done” prospects at Kentucky. Diallo can become his first so-called “none-and-done’’ player, attending college without a single game on his résumé.
“I’m not thinking about making history,” he said at the combine. “I’m just thinking about being a professional basketball player for a long period of time. Not just the short term. So I’m not thinking of shortterm history.”
Diallo sounded as if he didn’t want to get into a game.
“It was mostly my choice,’’ he said. “Just coming into a season with a team that has some chemistry flowing, a team that’s been together a whole summer and a semester, just coming in and trying to pinpoint myself with away would be right for me and for those guys.’’
The Post has learned the Knicks met with Iowa State senior point guard Monte Morris, who could be a late first- or a secondround pick. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek graduated from Iowa State. … Duke guard Frank Jackson also met with the Knicks and finally hired an agent, Kevin Bradbury. The Knicks likely would snatch him if he fell to 44. Of meeting with Phil Jackson, the Duke star said, “Man, it was crazy. I walked into the room and I was like, you’ve got to be kidding me. I was kind of starstruck.’’