Diakite chooses the Wahoos

Last August, well before he was a four-star power forward ranked as the No. 30 overall player in the Rivals150, Mamadi Diakite put on a show at UVa's Elite Camp in Charlottesville.

Now, the 6-foot-9 Blue Ridge standout has decided to end the speculation and commit to the Cavaliers.

"I felt like today was the day," Diakite told CavsCorner with a laugh. "I would have sooner but yes, this was the time to do it. I felt like it was the time to do it. I felt this was where I was supposed to be. I have known that for some time. This was where I wanted to play college."

The truth was that he had planned to make his announcement the previous day but ultimately, his father called and told him he didn't want him to make his announcement that way.

"He's my dad, you know?" Diakite said with another laugh. "What can I do? But this was my decision. I had to be the one to decide. I am very happy."

After finishing up his AAU season with a solid performance at Adidas Global Nations, Diakite chose the Wahoos over Washington and USC as well as offers from Baylor, NC State, Oklahoma State, SMU, and Virginia Tech. Most recruiting observers agree that had the well-known secret about his high level of interest in Virginia not been so widely spread, his offer list would've been much bigger.

"I fell in love with Virginia a long time ago," Diakite said. "I have always liked the players and the coaches and it was a great campus. I am very happy to be going to Virginia for college."

There has been a lot of talk about Diakite possibly coming to UVa this summer and enrolling for the 2015-2016 school year. On Tuesday, he said that he thought it was a very good chance, perhaps "as high as 80 percent," that he would enroll early.

Diakite joins fellow four-stars Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome in UVa's 2016 recruiting class along with three-star Jay Huff. Guy, ranked as the No. 59 overall prospect in the Rivals150, and Jerome, No. 68 overall, have had incredible summers. They both have worked hard to help recruit Diakite.

With its one scholarship remaining for the 2016-2017 season, the Cavaliers now focus their attention on the wing where several prospects have emerged. Recently, four-star forward Braxton Blackwell, currently No. 38 overall in the class of 2016, trimmed his list to six schools, including UVa. The Wahoos are expecting an official visit next month from the athletic 6-foot-7 Tennessee native.

Virginia is also well positioned for four-star wing DeAndre Hunter. Though Villanova will be tough to beat for the Wynnewood (PA) native, he too is expected to visit Charlottesville officially in September. The 6-foot-7 Hunter, currently No. 105 in the Rivals150 for 2016, is planning an unofficial visit this week.