KU Basketball: Ranking Top One and Done Players
By trevb
One And Done Kansas Jayhawks
Number Seven: Cheick Diallo
Cheick Diallo started his freshman season like Cliff Alexander ended his. A lengthy NCAA investigation caused Diallo to sit out five games for the start of his first season at Kansas. The headlines caused by the NCAA’s foolish investigation into his eligibility would mar his entire season.
It seemed as if Kansas would finally complete the puzzle and gain a great asset to their offense and defense to complete an anticipated Final Four run. Unfortunately, it turned out that KU had invested in another big man who would go on to disappointment.
Cheick Diallo would play 27 games, average 7.5 minutes per game, and accumulate an average of three points per game. However, it may be unfair to blame Diallo for his lack of production. He missed out on crucial games where he would have built an impression in the starting lineup.
So, with his freshman season at its end, Cheick Diallo would declare for the 2016 NBA Draft. Another big man project that needed at least one more season under Bill Self walks out again. With the 33rd pick of the 2016 NBA Draft the New Orleans Pelicans selected Diallo.
In his first, and so far only, season in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans, Diallo is a project in development. So far, he has played in nine games, averages 4.6 points, and 3.6 rebounds. We will see if he develops into anything special or impactful for the Pelicans, or if he falls off the NBA scene like Cliff Alexander did.