Gonzaga recruit Zoom Diallo hints at decision day in December
Zoom Diallo, the No. 1 point guard in the 2024 class according to 247Sports, alluded to Dec. 23 as the day he'll decide between Gonzaga, Arizona, USC and Washington in a social media post.
The Tacoma, Washington, native told 247Sports he entered a "final decision-making mode" in early November. Diallo has taken official visits with all four of his finalists, with his most recent being a trip to Tuscon, Arizona, on Oct. 18. Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky, Texas and Alabama were also in consideration throughout different stretches of Diallo's lengthy recruitment.
USC remains in the mix after already landing four-star guard Trent Perry, another Gonzaga target. But with Isaiah Collier likely declaring for next summer's NBA Draft as a probable top five pick, the Trojans pursuit of Diallo revolves around him being Collier's replacement with Perry. USC coach Andy Enfield has done well on the recruiting trail with two top-10 classes in 2022 and 2023. Diallo would be his third five-star recruit since 2020.
Washington got in early on Diallo's recruitment dating back to when he was a freshman at Curtis High School. The Huskies seek a replacement option for when Sahvir Wheeler and Paul Mulcahy ultimately depart after their eligibility as fifth-year seniors expires. Name, Image and Likeness opportunities in Seattle could also play a role for Washington.
Arizona hosted Diallo for its exhibition game against Lewis-Clark State earlier this season, which was his second trip to campus after visiting in October 2022. Rivals.com and On3.com predict the Wildcats will land the 6-foot-3 guard.
Gonzaga shouldn't be counted out in the sweepstakes yet, though. The Bulldogs coaching staff has made Diallo a top priority for a long time, with multiple visits to the Bay Area in September. Diallo also visited Spokane in January for a game between Gonzaga and Portland. It's unclear as to whether Ryan Nembhard or Nolan Hickman will use another year of eligibility beyond the 2023-24 season, but landing Diallo would go a long way for the future of Gonzaga's backcourt.