Razorbacks fans imploring NLR’s Allen

North Little Rock junior guard KeVaughn Allen is used to hearing people urging him to sign with Arkansas because he hears it from his teammates and classmates at school.

Allen, ESPN’s No. 27 prospect in the nation, is playing for the Arkansas Hoyas in the Real Deal in the Rock, which is being held this weekend at several sites in Little Rock and North Little Rock. He scored 18 points in the Hoyas’ 71-60 loss to the Nashville Celtics on Saturday morning.

“They ask which schools are looking at me,” Allen said. “If it’s any other school other than Arkansas, they say, ‘Naw, go to Arkansas, go to Arkansas.’ I just smile.”

Allen, 6-3, 170 pounds, was named the All-Arkansas Preps boys player of the year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette after helping lead North Little Rock to the Class 7A state title while averaging 21.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game this season. He also hears about the Hogs from his Charging Wildcats teammate Anton Beard, a point guard who signed with Arkansas in November.

“He’s just telling me to go to Arkansas, that’s the only place you need to go,” Allen said. “It’s home.”

Allen has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Florida, Memphis, Kansas, Connecticut, Baylor, Mississippi State and others. He said he plans to make official visits to Arkansas, Kansas and Florida but is uncertain about his other two trips.

Allen also said he is optimistic about the future of Arkansas basketball.

“Each year that Coach [Mike] Anderson has been there, the team has gotten better,” Allen said. “As he gets players in, they’ll become a better team and hopefully they’ll win a national championship.”

Wherever he goes to college, Allen will lean on his mother, Ahna Rose for advice.

“She’s been a great influence on me,” said Allen. “Ever since I was little, she told me if I don’t get my grades I won’t be able to play.”

He found out early that his mother meant what she said.

“I think it was the eighth grade year, I made like a bad grade and I didn’t get to play,” Allen said.

Sports, Pages 33 on 04/20/2014

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