Dontaie Allen to Kentucky | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Thursday / March 28.
  • Dontaie Allen to Kentucky

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    By ADAM ZAGORIA

    Dontaie Allen, the 6-foot-6 small forward from Pendleton County (KY), committed to Kentucky during his visit on Wednesday.

    “Kentucky has always been in his heart,” Thomas Allen, the player’s father, told the Herald-Leader on Thursday. “We were going to keep the options open and just see where we landed at, but by going on the visit and sitting down and having a conversation with Coach Cal, it just felt right.”

    Allen averaged 31.8 points and 11.4 rebounds last season as a junior and was being courted by Louisville, Xavier, Vanderbilt and West Virginia before the Kentucky offer, per the Herald-Leader.

    He’s ranked No. 83 by 247sports.com. Allen becomes the first in-state player to commit to Kentucky since Dominique Hawkins five years ago, per the Herald-Leader, and is Kentucky’s second Class of 2019 commit following point guard Tyrese Maxey.

    “It starts with his good size and length for a perimeter player,” 247Sports analyst Evan Daniels told the Herald-Leader. “And then it’s his shooting ability — I think that’s probably what stuck out to me the most. He has an easy, clean stroke, and he made a bunch of them this weekend.

    “I think it’s pretty clear he’s a confident shot-maker from distance. Probably a little bit better ball handler than I gave him credit for, although he’s still a little bit of a straight-line driver. But he can make one- and two-dribble pull-ups. I saw him go to the post and score. Plus, I think he’s got a very good feel for the game, especially as a scorer. I was very impressed.”

    Allen’s commitment comes the same week that Roselle (N.J.) Catholic and Mac Irvin Fire wing Kahlil Whitney is set to take an official to Kentucky beginning Friday.
     

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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