TUCSON, Ariz. — Following a trip to Australia this summer after being selected to represent the PAC-12 for a series of exhibition games, Wilmington native Kadeem Allen is ready to get his final college season underway for Coach Sean Miller and the University of Arizona Men’s Basketball Team.
Allen emerged as Arizona’s everyday starting point guard in his first season on the hardwood for the Wildcats. He averaged 8.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, led the team in steals, while his 27 blocks were the most by any player 6-feet-3-inches or shorter in the Pac-12.
The former New Hanover and Laney High School standout scored a season-high 15 points in Arizona’s win over UNLV (12-19-2015), recorded a 10-assist game versus Oregon and scored in double figures in 14 games for the Wildcats last season.
During the recent Blue-Red Game in Tucson, Allen had 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting in 14 minutes as part of the season-opening scrimmage on Oct. 14.
In the video above, Allen talks about his learning experiences after redshirting his first season at Arizona following an impressive junior college career as 2014 National JUCO (junior college) Player of the Year. He comments on the trip to Australia in July along with some of the things he’s looking to accomplish during his senior season for the Wildcats.
Allen put in a standout performance in Arizona’s exhibition game on Nov. 1 against the University of Idaho. He scored 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Allen added eight assists, seven steals and four rebounds, while committing zero turnovers. In the 25 minutes he was on the floor, the Wildcats outscored the Yotes by 44 points.
Watch his alley-oop to Kobi Simmons below.
Arizona’s second and final exhibition game was held on Sunday against Cal State Chico. The Wildcats open in Honolulu, Hawaii, against Michigan State on Friday, Nov. 11. Oregon was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the 2016-17 Pac-12 men’s basketball title. Arizona was predicted runner-up in the division after a vote of 27 media members who cover the league.
Kadeem Allen with alley-oop to Kobi Simmons 👏#APlayersProgram
@APlayersProgram #BearDown pic.twitter.com/MLZB8V8t4Y— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) November 2, 2016
