He had strong stats at K-State that could usually translate into an overseas professional opportunity at a good rate ($$). He leaves and come to VT, plays a few game and quickly sees that his stats are WAY down which will hurt those pro chances (less $$). The next thing many college students do is to externalize for "why" this change is happening. He may be spot on that it's about Covid and it may also be somewhat motivated by his own self-image. He is not longer a top scorer, top defender on a top level team and that's hard to go through. Some lean in to it and others lean out. Both can work depending on what your goal is.

We shouldn't expect great sacrifice for VT from a one-year Senior transfer, if it's not going the way he envisioned, then it's time to bounce and find the next opportunity. That's particularly true when the next opportunity is his professional career. Why risk hurting that more by staying at VT? Shouldn't that be part of his equation? I think it should, it makes sense to me, and it also makes sense to me that all parties point to Covid as the one and only reason. That protects Diarra, it protects VT for future recruits, and allows this team to move forward. Everyone involved wins.