Darius Allen is more than just an athlete
One of the best available senior prospects left on the board throughout the southeast showed off immense upside and even some entertainment value this past week at the Kreul Classic in Coral Springs, Florida. Darius Allen, a 6-foot-5 wing out of Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, is one of the elite athletes in the high school ranks but also brings budding ball skills to the floor and because of it, is beginning to see his recruitment pick up steam.
Playing with the Team MOAM bunch last travel season and at Florida Air Academy during his junior campaign, Allen has become known for his monstrous dunks. One slam in particular even turned out the lights at the 2014 City of Palms Classic. Whenever Allen isn’t kissing the rim with his forehead, he is also play making for others on the attack to the basket.
With a chiseled and well-developed physique, the senior wing has really worked on his handles in creating for others within the half-court setting. Sure, Allen flourishes in the open floor but it is his production in the half-court setting that really impressed and showed solid progressions this past week. While his jumper wasn’t falling as much as he might have liked, the Sunshine State native displayed great elevation and confidence on all of his attempts. Throw in his solid feel and pace to the game, quality rebounding numbers out of a perimeter position, and defensive versatility, and it isn’t surprising one bit that more college programs are beginning to throw their hats into the ring for the improving senior.
On the college recruitment front, while things were a bit lackluster just a month ago, a few schools continue to come through and show interest for the Chaminade-Madonna product’s services come next fall. “Florida International has offered me and Florida Atlantic offered me just last week,” the explosive wing stated. “Minnesota and Murray State are also talking to me a little bit.”
While Allen still has to figure out his academic situation, if he can get it all straightened out in the classroom, it could only make for a hard-fought recruitment with the developing yet already elite athlete late in the year as an April signee.