LEXINGTON — Sophomore guard Dontaie Allen is leaving the Kentucky basketball software and will enter his identify in the transfer portal.
Allen introduced the news Thursday through Twitter.
“Wow. This journey has been like no other. I can not thank Major Blue Nation more than enough for embracing me unconditionally by the highs and lows,” Allen wrote. “A child from Kentucky specified an unbelievable opportunity to perform for his dream college.
“This wouldn’t feel suitable without having thanking all my coaches, brothers, the trainers, the employees, Major Blue Nation, and anyone who designed my final a few years so particular. Lexington, Kentucky will without end be house. Just after substantially imagined and thought, I have decided to place my name into the transfer portal.”
Lots of admirers considered this could be a breakout calendar year for the redshirt sophomore, in particular soon after Iowa transfer CJ Fredrick was shed to a hamstring damage and surgical treatment prior to the time even began.
Immediately after redshirting the 2020 period with multiple accidents, Allen emerged as a person of the couple bright places in a woeful 2021 year. His 5.4 details for every video game typical was highlighted by a pair of 23-point outings towards Mississippi State. The initially came in Starkville, the 2nd in UK’s SEC Tournament decline in Nashville that finished the Wildcats’ period.
Allen concluded 2021 as next on the team in 3-stage share (39.7) and created 3s (31). He made a number of 3s in eight online games that season, which include a stretch of 5 straight to open SEC enjoy.
But instead of breaking out in 2022, Allen averaged just 2.2 details and 1.2 rebounds while shooting below 30% overall and below 20% from 3-level selection. Allen appeared in just 19 of the Wildcats’ 34 online games and logged double-digit minutes just six situations.
Allen received his chance early in the period, but just was not able to capitalize, building just 13-of-44 pictures (29.5%) and 6-of-32 3-tips (18.7) in 10 non-convention game titles. He performed just 5 complete minutes in the months of February and March as guards Kellan Grady, TyTy Washington and Davion Mintz moved earlier Allen.
“Dontaie has been an amazing teammate and brought a good deal to our application,” British isles coach John Calipari stated. “He battled to defeat an personal injury early and in no way permit the adversity adjust who he was. Proud of you, Dontaie. Thank you for the very last a few a long time and I desire you almost nothing but good results on your journey!”
Allen is the first verified departure this offseason and 1 that stings the supporter base considering the fact that he is a beloved previous Kentucky Mr. Basketball who endured much hardship to attempt to participate in for Kentucky.
Fact be informed, if not for a torn knee ligament in the 13th video game of his senior 12 months at Pendleton County in December, 2018, Allen would have been just one of the most celebrated in-state gamers to at any time signal with Uk, rivaling schoolboy legends Rex Chapman and Richie Farmer.
At the time of the personal injury, Allen was averaging 42.9 details for each sport and experienced by now eclipsed 50 points six instances. Had he stayed healthier, the whole Commonwealth would have come to be enthralled with the chase to see if Allen could split a record thought untouchable — 4,337 job factors by the mythical “King” Kelly Coleman for Wayland Substantial Faculty in the mid-1950s.
At worst, Allen was destined to turn into only the 2nd player to ever split 4,000 as that scoring speed above a 32-video game period would have set him at 4,070. A deep run into the Sweet 16 would have drawn him within just a shot of the King.
“It was devastating,” Allen confessed. “I was getting this sort of a superior 12 months.”
Extremely, he however completed at No. 10 all-time with 3,255 points in spite of lacking two-thirds of his senior season.
“I needed to go away my mark on the point out,” Allen said. “I truly feel like I did that.”