Prospect Spotlight: Pharoh Allah (2018)
The name Pharoh Allah won’t ring familiar to many coaches, players or fans of Southern California high school basketball.
That’s because Allah has yet to play a prep game in the area after relocating from Rahway, New Jersey.
Allah, who had a stellar showing at the West Coast Elite End of Summer Camp Sunday at El Camino College, has his sights set on stealing some of the So-Cal limelight.
“I just moved out here, so not a lot of people know who I am,” he said. “I’m just trying to make something of myself.”
Allah left his home in Rahway, which sits 35 miles outside of New York City, in search of more opportunities.
Pharoh Allah’s combination of explosive athleticism and a hard-nosed approach to the game should work well for him at his new So-Cal high school.“I made the transition here to just have a better life,” he said. “In my town in New Jersey, it was bad. I had to leave. I had to move.”
The move landed him at St. Genevieve high school in Panorama City just outside of Los Angeles after he helped lead Rahway High to a 19-3 record last season as the Indians advanced to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 3 Sectional semifinals.
Allah is prepared to wreak havoc on Southern Section opponents with his explosive athleticism, ferocious dunks and lockdown defense, a game hardened on playground blacktops.
“On the East Coast, it’s a dog fight and everybody wants the shine,” he said. “Out here, not everybody has the heart like that, so I feel like I have an advantage because I come from something that’s harder than this.”
Allah describes the strengths of his game as a combination of power and intangibles.
“My athleticism, for sure,” he said. “My defense, my hustle and and my overall will to play basketball and get the best out of each game.”
Leaving Rahway behind has allowed the 6-foot-4, 180-pound rising senior to concentrate on bettering himself and advancing his game.
“I’ve been working on everything this summer,” Allah said. “I’ve been in the gym every day trying to get better to get to that free college. That’s what I need.
“I have to get in better shape, my handle has to get tighter and I have to get my mid-range game up,” he added. “I have to be able to knock down those shots because I can get into the lane and everybody thinks I’m going to dunk it, but I need that pull-up in my arsenal.”
Allah is excited to get his final season of high school basketball underway after seeing first-hand what his teammates at St. Genevieve have to offer.
“Our squad is looking nice this year,” he said. “We have good guards and shooters who are going to open up a lot of opportunities for us, especially with me because of my athleticism. You have to guard a shooter, so I’m going to take advantage of that.”
College interest is beginning to pick up for Allah, who reports early interest from two Pac 12 programs.
“I’ve heard from a couple schools Cal Berkley and Colorado,” he said. “I’m hoping to get some more. It’s not over yet.”