Kansas Basketball Will Be Fine After Cheick Diallo’s Decision To Declare

Highly touted recruit Cheick Diallo came into the Kansas Jayhawks program with high expectations. Somewhat unexpectedly, he and Carlton Bragg found themselves with limited bench roles as this talented, veteran team rolled their way to a Big 12 regular season title, Big 12 tournament championship and No. 1 overall seed in the 2016 NCAA tournament.

Shortly after the Jayhawks’ disappointing loss to the Villanova Wildcats in the Elite Eight, Diallo announced that he would declare for the NBA draft without an agent. A big, talented athlete with tons of upside, Diallo should gain interest from many NBA teams, especially in the late first to mid-second round. He might not have shown out in his time at Kansas like other freshmen across the college basketball landscape, but his abilities coming into college were heavily scouted and NBA guys should know what to expect with this prospect.

Kansas fans will be disappointed to have lost such a promising player heading into a year when several of their best players are graduating, but the Jayhawks will be fine. This is one of the top programs in college basketball year in and year out and no player is irreplaceable. Diallo might be a lost asset and a “what if” if he has success in the NBA, but the Jayhawks will rebuild and be one of the best in the Big 12.

Oh, and do not forget, Kansas fans, Josh Jackson and Thon Maker are still heavily on the radar. Diallo might be a disappointing loss, but the future is still bright for Bill Self and the Jayhawks.