LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky freshman guard Hamidou Diallo has withdrawn from the NBA draft and will return to school to begin playing with the Wildcats.
The 6-foot-5 New York native enrolled in January but didn’t play in order to learn the college game and focus on school with the intention of playing next season.
Diallo entered the NBA draft last month and participated in the recent combine, but said in a statement early Thursday that “it’s in my best interests to return to school. … I can’t wait to play in a Kentucky jersey for the first time.”
Diallo will return to play with another highly-touted recruiting class that includes Quade Green, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jarred Vanderbilt. The group has big voids to fill with Kentucky losing five underclassmen to the draft along with three graduating seniors.
VaTech on 2017-18 Schedule
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky will host Virginia Tech next season in the first meeting between the schools since the Wildcats beat the Hokies in the 1996 NCAA second round on their way to the national championship.
The Dec. 16 matchup at Rupp Arena will be the first in Lexington against Virginia Tech since the Hokies won 80-77 in 1963 for their lone victory in four series meetings. The Hokies have split two games in Lexington.
Virginia Tech is among five non-conference opponents announced so far and one of three NCAA Tournament participants last season.
The Wildcats will face Kansas on Nov. 14 in Chicago and UCLA on Dec. 23 in New Orleans. They will also host Harvard on Dec. 2 and play Monmouth on Dec. 9 in New York City.