A New Recruitment for DeSean Allen-Eikens
Combo forward DeSean Allen-Eikens recently reclassed to 2019. It will open up new opportunities and give him a year of academic and physical development in preparation for a new recruitment.
“He has had a weird road,” said father Lamont Allen. “This year I am challenging myself as a parent and him as a kid. I am considering him not playing high school basketball this year. We are going to reclass (from 2018 to 2019). I am going to home-school him this year.”
Allen-Eikens improved his grades this year, per father.
“He has a 2.7 GPA right now,” said Mr. Allen. “That is the whole purpose of me doing this home-school/time management thing.”
Allen-Eikens will train with Lamont Allen this winter in Williston, North Dakota.
“(He will) train with me full-time.”
AAU Summer
A summer with Earl Watson Elite matters. The relatively-young program burst onto the SoCal scene and quickly demanded respect. For DeSean Allen-Eikens it was helpful, but the college aspirations remain loftier.
His father, Mr. Allen was pleased with the production just not always the positioning.
“He can play all five positions and he is strong enough,” said Mr. Allen. “They keep putting him (down low). He literally had to be the workhorse for his team. When they played the upper-echelon teams that is when he showed out. When they played the lesser teams the other players end up being more ball dominant.”
Active small forwards like Allen-Eikens are adaptable and generally capable of contributing all over the floor. With EWE the 6-foot-6 forward routinely attacked from the low block. His strong physique allowed him to finish against contact.
DeSean Allen-Eikens scored 15.8 ppg for an excellent team. He was second in the UA Association with 61.4 percent from field and he pulled down an impressive 7.0 rpg.
“DeSean’s numbers were on par with the top kids,” said Mr. Allen. “He was top 10 in scoring and rebounding. He was second in shooting efficiency. Obviously he wants bigger colleges calling him.”
Recruitment
“He has 6-7 offers from small D1 schools,” said Mr. Allen.
Keeping with his frankness Mr. Allen acknowledged the recruitment has “kind of dragged a little bit.”
“Utah State has offered. Southern University,” said Mr. Allen. “Portland State. Idaho State. I think there is one more. UND. I know Oregon State and Colorado and Montana are keeping in touch. Calling, writing, texting me.”
The urgency in recruiting Allen-Eikens changed with his reclassification. Now teams are able to re-consider the 6-foot-6 forward in their next recruiting cycle.
Allen-Eikens specifically mentioned Oregon State, Colorado, and Utah as offers he covets. The true test of his ceiling relies upon an assimilation to the wing. A 6-foot-6 wing is much more highly pursued than a bouncy 6-foot-6 power forward.
He can do it. It requires an evolution of his role on the premiere EWE team. How can you argue with 61% FG? It is tough to make the case, but Allen-Eikens is better served operating on the wing personally. It will dictate his future.
Next spring look for Allen-Eikens to stick with Earl Watson Elite, now branded as West Coast Elite.
“He played 16’s,” said Mr. Allen. “They had a big-time team with Josh Green, Nico Mannion, Cassius Stanley.”
For DeSean’s senior season a prep school seems most likely. That senior season will occur after a homeschooled junior campaign training quietly in Williston, North Dakota.