Recruiting Report: Elijah Allen (2017)
Elijah Allen: the opposing point guard is going to hate him, and his teammates that are spotting up are going to love him. A 2017 point guard from Cincinnati Gamble Montessori, Allen matches unselfish distribution of the ball with incredible…
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Continue ReadingElijah Allen: the opposing point guard is going to hate him, and his teammates that are spotting up are going to love him. A 2017 point guard from Cincinnati Gamble Montessori, Allen matches unselfish distribution of the ball with incredible energy.
The 5’10” prospect is heading into the final AAU session with All-Ohio Black still without an offer. However, he does bring a presence to the floor, drawing interest mainly from Fairmont State, Rider University, Lake Erie, and Charleston (South Carolina).
“My AAU coach told me that Charleston is going to come and see me play in July. Our first tournament in July is in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I think they’re going to come down there. So those are the three biggest schools that’s been on me really hard,” Allen said.
At 17 years old, Allen’s doctors say he is likely to grow two more inches. Even if he doesn’t get those inches, he has adapted to being “undersized.” He agitates ball-handlers, blows by them on offense and has an always improving in-between game once he draws the defense.
“I’m a true point guard, I like to get my teammates involved first. I’m a good defender. I can score the ball. I get to the cup very easily,” Allen said.
What happens once he gets into the lane? What is Allen looking to do?
“When I get into the lane, I want the defense to collapse so I can kick it out to the other guys. Or I will just beat him and try to get the foul or get the bucket. That’s what I focus on when I get to the hole. But mainly to kick it out.”
“This past high school year, I went to the hole a lot and I got fouled … I got beat up pretty bad. All over the ground … So I’ve been working on my pull-up lately, like a whole lot.”
His workout regiment is reflective of his high basketball IQ. Allen understands that the in-between game needs to be excellent as a guy who is currently under 6-foot.
Allen averaged 18.1 points on 50% shooting last season, and added a 5.8 assists per game. This combination of scoring and distribution speaks to his win-first mentality.
He told Prep Hoops Ohio that he’s in the gym daily to stay in peak shape. Given his style of play (which could be described as full-tilt energy), it’s no surprise that he’s doing a ton of conditioning in the “off-season.”