Kentucky's Hamidou Diallo announced Monday that he will enter the 2018 NBA Draft and intends to sign with an agent.
Diallo, 19, becomes the fourth UK underclassman to enter this year's draft, joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Knox and P.J. Washington. Only Washington has left open the possibility of returning to coach John Calipari's program.
Diallo, who graduated from high school in 2016, also declared for the 2017 NBA Draft but instead decided to return to UK.
"A year ago I tested the waters to get some feedback and then made the best possible decision for my career. I chose to come back, and I'm so happy I did," Diallo said in a video posted on his Twitter account. "It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Nothing made me prouder than to put that Kentucky name across my chest.
"Coming back to school I knew wasn't going to be easy. Coach Cal told me it would be the hardest thing I would ever have to do and it was. But I grew up and became a man this year on and off the court. I know I've only scratched the surface with my game, but I'm now prepared to do it because of the work I've put in at Kentucky and the support of everyone at this university. With that said, I'm entering my name into the 2018 NBA Draft and am ready to take the next step."
Diallo averaged 10.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in a redshirt freshman season marked by inconsistency.
