Timmy Allen won’t wear a Ute uniform until next season, but he sure got a big dose of the program this week.
Allen, a four-star recruit ranked the top player in Arizona and one of the top 100 in the country by 247Sports, signed a letter of intent to play for Utah in November. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound small forward could compete for time immediately with four seniors set to graduate, including forwards/wings Tyler Rawson and Gabe Bealer.
Tuesday night, Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak made an early arrival in Arizona to watch Allen play. Thursday, Allen watched Utah upset No. 21 Arizona State in Tempe. Friday, Allen helped his Red Mountain team beat Mesa while Utes assistant coach Demarlo Slocum was in the gym watching.
Allen chose the Utes despite having received interest from UCLA, Iowa State, Texas Tech and San Diego State. He decided to either cancel or not schedule campus visits, including with Pac-12 rival UCLA, after spending time at Utah.
“Utah really separated itself with the whole family thing,” Allen said of the Utes. “Once I got there I know what Coach K was about. He’s going to help me improve to get to the next level, and he believes in me so I believe in him. I’m ready to get up there.”
Allen had a big night with Krystkowiak in attendance on Tuesday. He scored 42 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a loss against Mesa Mountain View.
On Friday, Allen scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds despite only playing approximately four minutes in the second half before fouling out. Red Mountain held on for a 70-60 win over Mesa. Mesa came into the game ranked fifth in the region power rankings, while Red Mountain was ranked seventh.
When in the game on Friday, he served as the primary ballhandler bringing the ball up against pressure as well as a defensive presence in the middle of the floor and the top scoring option.
“I’m going to do anything they need me to do, run the floor, rebound, get a bucket, anything,” Allen said of his role next season with the Utes.
Bounce back
Utes senior forward David Collette played just 13 minutes and scored just four points against Arizona State on Thursday night. He’d actually posted back-to-back four-point scoring games after making just two field goals in a win against Washington State in Salt Lake City. Collette, who has averaged 12.5 points per game this season, scored 10 first-half points on 4-of-7 shooting.
Alkins ailing
Arizona sophomore guard Rawle Alkins sat out for the third time in the past four games with a lingering foot injury. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Alkins scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first meeting with the Utes this season. He has averaged 14.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game this season.
Follow @LWorthySports