Chris Allen: The Essentials.
- Class: Redshirt Senior
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6’3″
- Weight: 205
- Hometown: Lawrenceville, GA.
- 2010-11 season: Ineligible due to NCAA transfer rules. Transferred from Michigan State in 2010.
The Breakdown.
Second chances are a rarity in life, let alone basketball. But when Chris Allen was kicked off the Michigan State basketball team, he found a second opportunity for stardom at Iowa State. At Michigan State, he was often late for practices, argued with teammates, and made poor grades. In order for him to succeed this season, both on and off the court, he’ll need to show that he’s matured. According to his new coach, Fred Hoiberg, Allen has been nothing but a welcomed presence on campus in Ames. He’s not a true point guard, but he will likely be asked to bring the ball up the court during the majority of Cyclone possessions. Already the ISU underclassmen are looking to Allen as their senior leader, with Tyrus McGee saying “I look up to him because he’s an older guy. He knows the game more. He’s a quiet guy, laid back. He’ll sit there and listen, and he does what he’s supposed to do. That’s the real reason why I look up to him.” Allen has both the talent and the basketball IQ to complete a breakout performance, one that could possibly propel him into the NBA next summer. Here’s to hoping he recognizes the rarity and the good fortune of the second chance he has received at Iowa State.
What They’re Saying.
“If you give kids a chance and they don’t respond the right way, you’re doing them a favor [by kicking them off the team]. This year off could really help him. He’s a good enough kid. It’s not like he raped and pillaged anyone or robbed a 7-Eleven.”
– Tom Izzo
“Allen was an first-team all-state pick at Meadowcreek High in Georgia in 2007 and one of the nation’s most touted recruits when he signed with the Spartans. He contributed immediately for Michigan State, averaging 6.3 points as a freshman and scoring a season-high 20 in a loss to Memphis in the regional semifinals in 2008. Allen’s role grew in 2008-09, as he led the Spartans with 52 3-pointers and scored 16 points in the title game loss to the Tar Heels. He moved into the starting lineup as a junior, scoring at least 10 points 15 times, but by then his relationship with coach Tom Izzo began to deteriorate.”
– Washington Post