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2018 NBA Mock Draft: A full first round following National Championship Game

By Maxwell Ogden

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats cuts down the net after defeating the Michigan Wolverines during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. Villanova defeated Michigan 79-62. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats cuts down the net after defeating the Michigan Wolverines during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. Villanova defeated Michigan 79-62. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Hamidou Diallo #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates after dunking against the Buffalo Bulls during the second half in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Hamidou Diallo #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates after dunking against the Buffalo Bulls during the second half in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

147. . Shooting Guard. Kentucky Wildcats. Hamidou Diallo. 28. player

Age: 19 (7/31/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5″, 198 pounds, 7’0″
Slash Line: .428/.338/.616
Season Averages: 24.8 MPG, 10.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 3PM

The Brooklyn Nets may have talent at multiple positions, but there’s nothing that the organization needs more than talent. Thus, while some might question if it would be worth selecting a shooting guard at No. 29 overall, Hamidou Diallo has legitimate star potential.

Brooklyn has a number of quality players to develop, but adding competition is the only way for it to escape the predicament it’s found itself in.

Diallo is a supreme athlete with prototypical size for a shooting guard at 6’5″ and a massive 7’0″ wingspan. That should enable him to become a high-quality defender at the next level, which head coach Kenny Atkinson will push him to become.

Offensively, Diallo is fundamentally raw, but has the type of natural talent that should make him a lottery pick by the end of the NBA Draft process.

In the event that his current draft stock remains what it currently is, however, Brooklyn shouldn’t hesitate to select Diallo. He has the raw potential to become one of the best scorers to emerge from this draft class, as well as an off-ball threat once his shooting range is legitimized.

There’s more untapped potential than anything else, but the Nets have no better option than to explore what type of player Diallo could become.

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