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Report: Mamadi Diakite Returning to Virginia After Declaring for 2019 NBA Draft

Virginia forward Mamadi Diakite will reportedly return to the defending national champion Cavaliers after initially declaring for the 2019 NBA draft.

Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com reported the news Wednesday.

The 6'9" Diakite averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 21.8 minutes per game during his junior season. The 22-year-old made 55.0 percent of his shots, none more important than when he forced overtime in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament against Purdue:

NCAA March Madness

WE'RE HEADING TO OT! ud83dude31 #MarchMADNESS | #Elite8 https://t.co/pmX7SHt35Z

UVA will have some new faces alongside Diakite in the lineup, as Ty Jerome, De'Andre Hunter and Kyle Guy are making the leap to the NBA.