By Ron P. Coderre

Hamidou Diallo has been a hot college prospect since he arrived on the Putnam Science Academy campus in September 2014.  Last season as the Mustangs mounted a drive for the National Prep Championship, a quest that ended in the semifinals, Diallo’s reputation spread to prominent NCAA Division I basketball programs throughout the country.

Shortly after the close of the season, top programs such as Duke and the University of Kentucky came calling with offers of scholarships to these prestigious programs.  This summer Diallo’s been competing at showcase events around the nation, prompting the National Basketball Association bird dogs to take notice as they rate the Top 10 high school and prep school prospects.

According to NBADraft.net, Diallo has risen to the seventh top prospect in the elite talent on the NBA’s watch list.  In its fifth annual report on top high school prospects, here’s what the service has to say about Diallo.

“Arguably the most athletic player in the country checks in at number 7 on our list.  He has a college ready body and a college ready demeanor on both ends of the floor.  He can get to the basket with the best of them and make enough shots to keep you honest.  He has the potential to be a great lockdown defender because of his size, length and athletic ability, but he needs to focus on that end of the floor for 32 minutes.  While he can make shots he’s still streaky.  He can get hot and knock down 3 or 4 in a row and also miss 3 or 4 in a row.  There’s nothing mechanically wrong with his shot, it just needs time to mature.  He put on an absolute show at the Pangos Camp in L.A. a couple weeks ago and is firmly established in everybody’s top 10 in the country rankings.  Duke and Kentucky are in a major war for his services and it will be interesting to see which direction he decides to go in.”

The report was put together by recruiting gurus Eric Bossi of rivals.com, Evan Daniels of Scout.com and Jerry Meyer of 247 Sports.

“This is great news about Hamidou.  I’m very pleased for him.  I feel that he’s smart enough to understand what this is all about and handle this news in a mature fashion,” said Coach tom Espinosa.

Diallo leads a group of returnees to Putnam Science Academy that includes Jaheam Cornwall, Darnell Brodie and Eric Ayala along with a bevy of new recruits.  Coach Espinosa is hopeful that with the right chemistry and Diallo’s leadership a National championship is within the Mustangs reach.