Wilmington native Kadeem Allen gets to add another memorable experience to his playing career this month as the University of Arizona standout has been selected to compete alongside other PAC-12 players in the 2016 All-Star Basketball Tour of Australia.
Allen joins Arizona teammate Chance Comanche as the two Wildcats are part of the conference’s team of 12 student-athletes, who will play exhibition games against Australia’s national team in July.
Allen, a senior, started 28 games at point guard a year ago for Arizona in his first season in a Wildcat uniform. He averaged 8.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in his 34 appearances, while leading all Pac-12 guards in blocks (27).
After redshirting in his first season for Coach Sean Miller, Allen emerged as Arizona’s everyday starting point guard. He scored a season-high 15 points in a win over UNLV (12-19-2015) and recorded Arizona’s only 10-assist game versus Oregon (1-28-2016). He had double figures in 14 games overall.
Before transferring to Arizona, Allen was recognized as the National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.
The team will have a three-day training camp in Los Angeles from July 5-7 in preparation for the July 9-14 tour. During their trip, the PAC-12 All-Stars will participate in two games against the Australia Men’s National Team – known as the Australian Boomers – in its preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as well as a third contest versus a team from the semi-professional South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).
The six-day trek will also provide student-athletes the opportunity to experience Australian culture, visit historic landmarks, and engage in off-the-court activities in the country’s second-most populous city.
Game dates are slated for Sunday, July 10 (vs. SEABL team), Tuesday, July 12 (vs. Australia MNT), and Thursday, July 14 (vs. Australia MNT). All three games will be held at Hisense Arena, a 10,500-seat venue that serves as the home of Melbourne United, the city’s franchise in the professional National Basketball League. The group will then return to the U.S. on July 15.
