Midlo Cane Fan
No more Midlo
- Joined
- May 19, 2018
- Messages
- 8,746
Mamadi Diakite Withdraws From 2019 NBA Draft, Will Return To UVA
Mamadi Diakite is returning to help Virginia defend its national title.
virginia.sportswar.com
Well he would have to improve offensively quite a bit for that to happen.I disagree. If he continues the growth he showed in the second half of last year and in the NCAAT, could be a late lottery pick even. Again, that's an "if."
He will have a nice career as a defender and rebounder, ala Rodman type. On that team if you could score, you would get the ball. He was key to their success obviously but I don't see him as a lottery pick. Not even close. They played great "team" d and he reaped the most from it. His inefficiencies on offense were masked by those other guys too. We did it in AAU ball all the time.He'll get a lot more shots this coming season with Hunter, Guy, Jerome, gone. He had two 14 point games in the NCAAT, against Purdue and Oklahoma, plus 17 against Gardner-Webb in the South Region opener. And, again, that's with the three other stars I mentioned getting all the shots.
I would certainly take him, no disputing that, I just don't see him being that highly rated. Right system maybe he sneaks up the board, I'm sure some team will love all his attributes. but lottery pick. I can't even see that as possible.We'll see. As to what his draft stock turns out to be, that'll depend on how deep the 2020 draft is. This last draft was very top-heavy, then fell off quickly. My last comment on Diakite: wish we had him; just what we need. A guy with size who is a strong defender and superb rebounder.