One of the elite prospects in the state of Arizona, regardless of class, did not begin that way. Entering the 2014 club season, Willow Canyon High School's 6-foot-7 rising senior forward Nick Allen was an unknown prospect by even basketball enthusiasts in the state. But after a spring and summer that have been filled with numerous dominant performances, this young man has began to pick up recruiting steam.
Allen has played big all spring and summer after a junior season where he averaged a subpar 15 points and 4.3 rebounds - modest numbers for a prospect that has emerged as a strong prospect in the West this July.
As a result of his play, Allen is now hearing from many schools for his college services, but he looks to have a leader early in his recruitment. University of Wyoming has been recruiting Allen since the April evaluation period, when he played very well in a Double Pump event. Assistant coach Scott Duncan, a former assistant at UCLA and Oregon, has been instrumental in the recruitment of Allen. Wyoming has had tremendous success in the NCAA of late.
While before the spring I had not seen Allen perform, this young man proved that he is among the top prospects in the class. An unheralded prospect before the spring, Allen proved to be among the premier prospects in the class.
Allen is a tough, gritty combo-forward prospect with deceiving athleticism and a high motor for himself. While he is not overly quick laterally, Allen is at his best defensively in the post but 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. A nice looking prospect with a mean streak to him.
Allen has not indicated when he will make his college decision, but it could be a long list after the summer. He will still need to get some work done in the classroom as well to become an academic qualifier.
Allen is currently playing in the Fab 48 NCAA-certified event in Las Vegas this week and weekend with his club program, the Arizona Magic Elite 17U.
