FanPost

Cheick Diallo, Check Out Iowa State

diallo.0.jpg

We all know who Cheick Diallo is at this point. However does Diallo know who we (Iowa State) are? Cheick Diallo would undoubtedly be the biggest recruit to dawn an Iowa State basketball uniform in quite some time, maybe probably ever if he chooses to commit to us. I'm sure Diallo has concerns about to committing to Iowa State (if he didn't he would have committed already, duh). I'm here to alleviate those concerns Mr. Diallo.

Here's a little background on Cheick Diallo if you don't know who he is. First thing you need to know is, Diallo auto-corrects to Diablo and Cheick auto-corrects to Check, that gets very annoying when you're doing research for a FanPost. Once you get past that debacle Diallo is 11th ranked recruit according to ESPN and the 6th ranked recruit according to Rivals. Diallo is listed at 6'9" and 225 or 220 respectively and has a 7'3" wingspan, he is originally from the African country, Mali. Diallo goes to high school in New York and attends Our Savior New American School. I'm not gonna dive into Diallo's basketball skills if you want to see him in action go over to youtube and search "Cheick Diallo" and watch him in action.

Diallo is considering (in no particular order), Iowa State, Kansas, Pitt, St. Johns, Kentucky. So why should Diallo pick Iowa State over national powers UK and KU as well as Pitt and St Johns? Well I'll tell you.

Previous/Current Success with Top 100 Recruits under Hoiberg

Royce White: White was originally committed to Minnesota as the 19th best player in the nation. Royce found himself in some legal issues over a stolen laptop or something while at Minnesota. Anyway doesn't matter, he transferred to Iowa State and led the Cyclones in every major statistical category in his lone year at Iowa State (points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals (ha, steals, ironic)). White led the Cyclones to a victory against defending champs UCONN in the NCAA Tournament and then lost to eventual Champion Kentucky. Royce White was drafted 16th overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. The person closest to Diallo in terms of recruiting ranking clearly had a great run in his single season at Iowa State and Hoiberg clearly knew how to use this truck disguised as a human and catered to his abilities as a basketball player. Diallo can expect the same treatment playing under Hoiberg. Hoiberg is a master of playing to his players strengths which seems obvious but somehow coaches still don't do it all the time.

Deandre Kane: Kane wasn't a top 100 recruit but I needed to make sure we all knew this picture existed. Look at his mini afro!

DEANDREKANE12_10150.0.JPG

Georges Niang: Niang is arguably the most versatile player in the Nation in College Basketball this season. He came out of high school as the number 56 player in the nation according to ESPN and number 69 according to Rivals. Niang is on the Wooden Award watchlist, which is given to the best player in college basketball every year. Niang is also on the Lute Olson Award watchlist. This award is given to the best non-freshman in the country. Georges Niang is another PF to have outstanding success under Hoiberg. Niang is averaging 15 points, 3.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds so far this season and helped lead the Cyclones to their second and third NCAA tournaments in a row. Niang is yet another example of Hoiberg catering to his players abilities and putting them in a position to have great success.

Monté 'Man-Man' 'Mr. Big Game' Morris: Man-Man, Mr. Big Game, Tae, M&M, whatever you want to call Monté Morris he's probably cool with it. You know what else he's cool with? Assists. You know what he's not cool with? Turnovers and his ranking out of high school. Morris is arguably the best PG in college basketball today but out of high school he was ranked 84th in the nation according to ESPN and 96th according to Rivals, barely cracking the Top-100. We all know Monte Morris shattered the NCAA record of A/TO ratio as a freshman and he is only bettering that as a sophomore. If Hoiberg can find, develop, and utilize a guy like Monté imagine what he can do with a guy like Diallo. Also imagine what Monté can do with you, Mr. Diallo, imagine how much fun you two could have on the court.

Matt Thomas: Thomas is a believer in the "Three's Please" motto. Matt Thomas was the 51st ranked player according to ESPN and 54th according to Rivals (yes ~40 spots higher than Monté). Thomas finished last season with the second most threes my a freshman in school history even through his dry spell. If Thomas gets out of his own head he will be one of the best shooters in the country with his purer than pure stroke which will open up the floor for you to dunk on some poor fool.

Bryce 'Turn Down for What' Dejean-Jones: Bryce likes loud music and disturbing his neighbors, maybe that's to drown out the hate of being the 69th best player out of high school according to ESPN and 97th according to Rivals. Dejean-Jones is clearly a gifted athlete with a pretty good stroke. I'm working off limited data with Iowa State's version of Bryce but I think it's safe to say that he might be performing the best he ever has in his collegiate career as a Cyclone and might be the best athlete ever under Hoiberg.

So whether it's a hyped kid out of high school who was forced to transfer, an underrated kid who developed into a star, or a graduate transfer Hoiberg has had success with all types of collegiate basketball players. If seeing other players success from all different backgrounds isn't enough for Cheick Diallo lets look at another aspect.

Hoiberg: Master of meshing personalities from around the world

Hoiberg played with Ron Artest/Metta World Peace/Panda Friend and Fred didn't die. Need I go on?

ron-artest-fight-o.0.gif

(ignore that red circle, focus on the dude with "Artest" on the back of his jersey)

tumblr_m2wgrsx2ad1r7q0vjo1_500.0.gif

Ok fine I will, but I'm not happy about it. Hoiberg also played with Toni Kukoc of Croatia while Hoiberg was with the Bulls among many other foreign players with the Bulls. Hoiberg also played with Ndudi Ebi with the Timberworlves who is from Nigeria originally and currently plays for Virtus Roma. If Virtus Roma sounds familiar that's because Melvin Ejim (also Nigerian) also plays for them. Fred Hoiberg played with Kevin Garnett as well who has been known to be a head case at times.

arkig7g74nzq0vb6t61m.0.gif

It's clear Fred has played with players from all over the world as well as players with all sorts of different personalities and meshed well with them with his cool and calm demeanor. Hoiberg is great at relating to all personalities and people.

As an Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Hoiberg found many foreign players as well including many European born players. As a coach Hoiberg has again welcomed those not from America, including Big 12 Player of the year Melvin Ejim who is Canadian/Nigerian. Hoiberg also welcomed fellow Canadian Naz Long as well as fellow British/Nigerian Daniel Edozie. Most recently Fred Hoiberg has brought in Grecian Georgios Tslampouris who is the only one who didn't grow up speaking english as a native language much like you, Cheick Diallo. Everything we are hearing out of the Cyclones basketball camp says Georgios has been welcomed to the team wonderfully.

(I can only imagine the broken english "Trash Talking" between Georgios and Cheick in practice if Diallo commits. That alone should be reason enough for Diallo to want to come to Iowa State.)

Coaching

Fred has a great system for players to play in. It's an up-tempo style that loves to share the ball. He will cater to your style and integrate you perfectly into his system. I've seen your intensity and tenacity on defense on youtube and you will help shore up our defensive along with the maturation of Jameel McKay. It's impossible not to like Fred's system, Cheick and you will fit in perfectly, expect many transition dunks and alley-oops for yourself.

Ames, Iowa/Iowa State

Contrary to what Matt Thomas, Abdel Nader, and Bryce Dejean-Jones might tell you it's actually a pretty hard place to get in trouble in. What I mean by that is: Ames is in the middle of nowhere, there are no clubs, no casinos/resorts, nothing but bars, a college, and farms. The same cannot be said about St. Joe's, Kentucky, and Pitt. As long as you keep your music down (BDJ I'm looking at you) and swallow your pride and call a friend for a ride (Matt and Abdel....) you should be more than golden. Iowa State is an outstanding university that will do its part to help international students succeed.

Fans

We fans are the best in the country and you won't experience another venue like Hilton and Hilton Magic. We do our research on players (clearly) and we will root for Iowa State almost to a fault. We will be behind you 100% Cheick and do everything in our power to make you feel welcome and godlike. Unless you go to Kansas...that'll be a different experience for you...but I'm not gonna get into that.

Hoiberg is Dreamy and Likes to have fun

You'll be playing for the most attractive coach in college basketball who is also spontaneous and loves to dance, Mayor McDreamy

104331300-14113511.0.jpg

IeJulPl.0.gif

Abbreviated Version

Why should Cheick Diallo come to Iowa State?

  1. Fred Hoiberg has had great success with high profile recruits as well as developing recruits and meshing them with transfers.
  2. Hoiberg played with all sorts of personalities as well as many foreign born players and he had great success meshing with them and brought that calm/cool personality/mentality to coaching
  3. Hoiberg had no problem bringing in foreign born players as a member of the front office
  4. Hoiberg has very successfully coached foreign born players including those from Africa as well as those who don't speak english as their first language.
  5. You'll fit in perfectly in Fred's system and we will all have fun watching you in transition.
  6. If you don't do stupid things you won't get in trouble.
  7. Us fans are the best.
  8. Dreamy

FanPosts are written by members of the WRNL community, not the WRNL staff. Any opinions expressed in this FanPost are the author's only.