Willow Canyon High School's talented and skilled 6-foot-7 senior forward Nick Allen will be one of the more sought after recruiting targets in the West this spring, especially if he can get it done academically this high school season.
While many schools will be looking to get involved with Allen this spring, one school is looking to get it done much sooner. This week, Allen received a nice division-I offer from the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA), a member of Conference-USA. Allen will also take an official recruiting visit to the school this weekend. UTSA will look to get Allen on their campus this weekend and seal the deal with the rising talent.
Allen is one of the elite prospects in the state of Arizona, regardless of class, but he did not begin that way. Entering the 2014 club season, Allen was an absolutely unknown prospect inside and outside of the state of Arizona. But after a superb spring and summer that was filled with numerous strong performances, Allen picked up major attention and recruiting steam.
As a result of his play this club season, Allen would generate serious recruiting interest with such college programs as the University of Wyoming, Grand Canyon University and Portland State, just to name a few.
Allen is a tough, gritty combo-forward prospect with deceiving athleticism and a high motor for himself. Allen is at his best defensively in the post but he is also capable of defending quicker players on the perimeter as well. He has an advanced skillset on the offensive end, which allows him to effectively score inside and out. He is capable of scoring either with his back to the basket with a variety of offensive moves, or while facing the basket out to three-point distance where he is able to make shots consistently and also possesses excellent footwork. A nice looking prospect with a mean streak to him.
Last season as a junior, Allen averaged 15 points and 4.3 rebounds – very modest numbers for a prospect that has now become one of the better combo forwards in the West. Allen will look to raise those numbers considerably during his senior season.
He will still need to get some work done in the classroom to become an academic qualifier by NCAA standards, but he looks to be off to a very good start this academic year, and looks to be in good shape to qualify by year end with continued hard work.
UTSA will look to get it done with Allen this weekend, so I will keep you updated as this story develops.
