Clarkston star Allen commits to Idaho hoops

Trevon Allen clearly has Vandal bloodlines, but that's not necessarily why he's headed for the University of Idaho basketball program.

The Clarkston High standout acknowledged his oral commitment Wednesday, saying here-and-now factors weighed more heavily in his decision than, say, his father's football career with the Vandals.

"One thing they always told me," Allen said of his parents, Alan Allen and Sonya Samuels-Allen, both UI graduates, "is that, 'We're not pushing you to attend any particular school, or our alma mater. Go out there and make your own story. If you want to attend there or attend a different school, make them remember you for a reason.' "

The 6-foot-3 point guard, who helped the Bantams to their first state championship last year, also received a scholarship offer from Eastern Washington, the Vandals' primary rival in the Big Sky Conference, and from Idaho State of the same league.

His two finalists were Idaho and EWU, and Allen said he reached a decision Monday. He'll be able to sign with coach Don Verlin's program when the early signing period begins Nov. 11.

"I was the only point guard they were recruiting out of the class of 2016, and they've been recruiting me a long time," Allen said. "They've been really loyal, told me to 'Stay patient, we'll be here whenever you want to let us know.' I was really thankful for that, because they could easily have let me go and went on to the next man. But they hung through it with me."

Allen's father was a deep-threat receiver for Idaho in the early 1990s and spent three years in NFL Europe, as well as some time with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles. Trevon Allen plays receiver for the Bantams football team and was being recruited in that sport as well.

Allen averaged 17.3 points and 4.5 rebounds a game last year, shooting 41 percent from 3-point range, 48 percent overall and 81 percent from the foul line for a Clarkston team that claimed a Washington Class 2A state title.

"Trevon is extremely gifted as a basketball player, offensively and defensively," Bantams coach Justin Jones said. "His athleticism, his explosiveness, is something that's rare to see at the high-school level. He's an unbelievable teammate, very coachable, and just a joy to have around."

Clint Hordemann of the Idaho Select, a Boise-based AAU program for which Allen played, said he can envision him playing either point guard or shooting guard, with his combination of ballhandling and 3-point touch.

"I know Idaho had been recruiting him the longest, and I think that time and energy paid off, because they got a great player," Hordemann said. "I think he has a chance to be an all-conference guy in the Big Sky."

Allen said his campus visit to UI was a significant factor in his choice.

"I really like the coaching staff, they're all great guys," he said. "Even the players were kind of inviting me in - it wasn't 'Oh, we've got a new guy in,' That's what you look for when you go to a college. You make sure you fit in and people accept you."

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Grummert may be contacted at daleg@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2290.