Even in his senior year, Morehouse forward, Shawn Allen still manages to surprise his team and spectators.
The team is on a seven-game winning streak and Allen was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Player of the Week after posting season-highs in points (26), rebounds (11), assists (6) and steals (3) this week.
“Shawn improved tremendously each year, from freshmen to sophomore, but this year he’s a little more focused and he’s been putting in a lot of extra work,” Douglas Whittler, assistant coach of the Maroon Tigers said. “He’s been a ‘team-first’ guy and I’m excited about what he’s been doing.”
Allen was the SIAC’s second-leading scorer last season with 18 points per game, playing in every game, averaging 34.3 minutes per contest – third most in the conference.
“Shawn, over the last two years, has been the heart and soul of the team,” Head Coach Grady Brewer said. “He creates an atmosphere for younger players to make them understand that it takes hard work and dedication to get to the top of your game.”
The 6’5 kinesiology major is probably the most versatile player on the team; he can play any position on the floor. With the ability to play the wing and the post, Allen has helped Morehouse remain undefeated in conference play so far this season.
“We work hard and try to finish every game,” Allen said. “We try to put more emphasis on defense this season than in the past. Everybody buys into their roles, with tip-ins, rebounds, and taking charges.”
A native of New Orleans, Allen and his family evacuated to Augusta during Hurricane Katrina, where he finished high school.
“I try to stay in touch with my family,” Allen said. “I have five siblings, four brothers and a sister, who moved back to New Orleans, but off the court, I pretty much stick to myself and do the college thing. I try to stay in the right mindset because I am grown.”
With aspirations to play professional basketball immediately after graduation, Allen is energetic, knowledgeable of the game, and wants to be successful.
“If I had one word to describe Shawn Allen, it would be a ‘character,’ but in a good way,” Brewer said. “I was teasing him on the last road trip. He was trying to explain to the official about a call that was made and I was trying to tell him that the official has already made his call and he’s not going to change it. Then I turned to the team and said ‘Shawn Allen will argue with a stop sign, won’t he?'”
“That’s his personality,” Brewer continued, “he’s going to get his point across, but it’s in a good way.”
Photo: Courtesy of House Sports.
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