Picture via sports.yahoo.com
Why Grayson Allen’s Superstardom Should Not Be Surprising
Last April, during Duke’s championship run the most asked question was, who is Grayson Allen? But for avid college basketball fans the thought was, finally, it’s Grayson Allen.
Allen first made a name for himself on national television when he won the McDonald’s All American dunk contest. He won the contest by jumping over Jahlil Okafor in a Jay Williams Duke jersey, Williams was commentating the dunk contest live on ESPN. Allen was a very talented player way before all his mixtapes of posterizing opponents and flashy dunks went viral.
Many people do not know that Allen was at one point the leader of the 2014 Duke recruiting class. But, after commits of Justise Winslow, Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor, Allen became an afterthought. During the 2014 season Allen averaged about nine minutes a game and about four points per game, not eye popping numbers at all. But, I always said to my friends and family that when Allen got his chance he would perform, and I was lucky enough to see it in person at the Final Four. When I Instagramed a picture of the Duke versus Michigan State game with the #PutGraysonInTheGame all I wanted was to see one of my favorite players play for just a few minutes. When Allen got in the game in the first half and he was diving all over the floor for loose balls, I knew something big was coming. When Allen attempted a three pointer from the corner then immediately followed his own shot because he knew it was short, then took off from right outside the lane, flushed down a powerful one-handed dunk, then flexed for the crowd( Coach K didn’t appreciate the flex, but the fans did).Ladies and gentlemen, Grayson Allen has officially come out of hibernation and it’s only the start. Allen continued his performance in the national championship by solely keeping Duke in the game with 10 second half points.
Coming back for his sophomore year Allen knew he would have to carry a much less talented Blue Devils team. He is doing just that, by averaging about 25 points, five rebounds and four assists. Allen is an extremely talented player that will deliver just when you need him to, look for him to lead Duke to a tournament run in March.