Adam Allen was coming off a solid freshman season at the University of Florida. His game was just starting to get to where he wanted it to be. He led the Gators in both 3-point shooting percentage and field goal percentage in practices leading up to his sophomore season.
Then in October came the scrimmage just a week before the season began. Allen missed a free throw and it bounced past everyone to the right. Teammate Erving Walker ran into Allen as he tried to grab the offensive rebound, as Allen's left leg was planted. At first they did not think it was a serious injury. Allen hobbled off the court under his own power. The trainer's told Allen he had a MCL sprain and would miss 2-4 weeks. After three-four weeks Allen learned that he had a bone bruise and some possible damage under his kneecap so they elected to do a scope. After cleaning up the cartilage that was damaged Allen returned to running and basketball activities after six weeks.
After six weeks of rehab Allen was about 80 percent of his former self. The doctors decided to do a medical reefing procedure to tighten his kneecap that is tracking from left to right. After about eight months was when Allen started to lose faith. After 10 months Allen was in the trainer's room and the trainer told him to have a seat.
"There is nothing left we can do for you. I am sorry to say. We can only offer you a medical scholarship."
"I wasn't even able to jog without a limp let alone play basketball." Allen said.
Allen did not play in either the 2008-09 or 2009-10 seasons. NCAA regulations only allow a player to redshirt once.
After 10 months was when it really started to hit Allen:
"Everything I had worked for my whole life was all for naught at this point. I had to decide what the next step was going to be."
Basketball had been a part of Allen's life since birth. Adam's dad Randy Allen was playing for the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets in the CBA when Adam was born. Two weeks later Randy got the call from the Sacramento Kings. He played two years for the Kings and then was cut. Then Randy hooked on with the Denver Nuggets and played with them for two years.Adam Allen was around the game of basketball since he was a kid. He followed his dad around the CBA. At one point Adam attended a French pre school while his dad played overseas.
Adam Allen grew up on a farm in Cedar Rapids,Iowa. His dad was a workaholic and very strict. Basketball was Adam's get away. One year when Adam was 13 he even played soccer so he did not have to stack hay on a farm in Cedar Rapids.
Adam Allen's family was in Milton,Florida. so that is where Adam attended high school. His brother Drew is 12 years old and plays both AAU basketball and baseball. Brandon Allen is 21 years old and after three years as a pitcher in the San Fransisco Giants farm system decided not to continue his baseball career. Brandon is now a 21 year old freshman playing basketball at Florida State. Adam's mom Kelly is the head principal at Jay Elementary School which is about 30 miles outside of Milton. After his basketball playing career was over (Randy retired when Adam's 18 year old sister Sydney was born. Randy has owned and operated many businesses on the Florida panhandle including contracting, land clearing,farming, as well as an airport luggage service.
Adam was the all time leading scorer (2317 points) and rebounder (1200) as well as the leader in blocked shots (321) in Milton High School history. He was a member of the region 1-4A state runner up team in 2005-06. Milton was a two point loser in the championship game. Allen had a shot to tie the game late to send it into overtime but says he just used that as a learning experience and motivating factor to get better.
The came the college decision. Despite the fact that they both went to Florida State Randy and Kelly Allen made sure that Adam made his own decision and did not push him one way or another.
"They really kept me grounded." Allen said.
Allen played both basketball and baseball at the University of Florida his freshman year. He made two appearances on the mound as a pitcher. Allen was a middle reliever. Basketball was always where his passion was though. It was a solid freshman season for the former Milton High star. He played in all 36 games, averaging 4.0 points and 0.8 rebounds a game. He was second on the team, shooting at a 42 percent clip from the 3-point line. Things were really starting to come together for Allen his sophomore year and then came the scrimmage and the knee injury. Despite having to have three procedures done on his knee Allen continued to stay positive and never intended on quitting the game. After 10 months was when Allen first took off the bandage.
"I took off the bandage and looked down at the 45 staples and all these screw they put in the back of my knee to put some cartilage back in there and I looked down and said Good God ." Allen said.
His senior year after consulting with his parents Adam decided to go get a second opinion. So they went to the Andrews Institute in Pensacola,Florida and they told him he could have this medical realignment/micro fracture patella realignment surgery. It was a 12 month recovery process. After 12 months of rehab Allen would have some mobility. He had enough strength in his leg that he could run again. After a long road Adam was able to play pick up basketball with his buddies twice a week. His two roommates at Florida where current NBA players Nick Calathes and Chandler Parsons.
So at the end of the 2010-11 season the Gators were facing Alabama on senior night. The SEC regular season title was on the line. Allen got to dribble out the clock as the Gators secured the SEC regular season title. This is what Allen had to say about that:
" It was such a thrill for me and such a great gesture by Coach Donovan to have me dribble out the clock. It was an incredible moment. One that I will always remember. The ovation that I got and the hugs that I got from my teammates made everything I had been thru worthwhile for that one day.Coach Donovan has been like a father figure to me, he cares about each and every one of his players. I have so much respect for him. He treated me like I played 20 minutes a game, asked me my opinion."
After that season Allen did a lot of reflecting back on the previous couple of seasons. It became clear that he was not going to be able to compete at the SEC level like he once did with all the knee problems he had endured.
"Coach Donovan taught me a lot. He taught me to live in the moment every day. The fact that you could not reach your long term goals without setting some short term ones. Living in the moment meaning you have to go at it 100 percent everyday and work as hard as you can". Allen graduated from the University of Florida.
He had this to say about the basketball program at Florida:
"Playing basketball at Florida is like a full time job. You spend 6-7 hours a day working on your game. Between practices, meals and everything it is like a full time job".
In the summer time Allen was working for a company called Vax Inc. It is a delivery service and Randy wanted Adam to put the company in his name. Adam was using the summer to try and figure out what he was going to do next. He was playing pick up basketball with a few of his buddies when Alex Castillo (then at Rollins) mentioned that Adam should come to Rollins. Surprising shortly there after Castillo got assistant coach Brad Ash on the phone. Ash then got assistant Kyle Frakes and head coach Tom Klusman in the conversation. All three coaches said we would love to have you here. About a week later Allen took the GRE and got into Rollins where he is currently a grad student. So Allen would go to Rollins in the 2012-13 season. The knees are still a problem. He does still have his 3-point shooting ability though. Another big reason for Allen coming to Rollins was one of his best buddies Kyle McClanahan who was also at Florida to start out his career got him to come.
The two coaches that Allen played for are similar in that they care about each and everyone of there players. They both want the best out of there players and will "bend over backwards" for any of them."
Allen continues to excel at Rollins despite playing on one leg. A year ago Allen played in all 26 games for the Tars. He averaged 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds a game. He shot 44 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point line on the year. He scored in double digits 13 times.
This season Allen is averaging 9.7 points a game as a grad student. He continues to be a solid 3-point shooter, is the Tars third leading scorer as well as being one of the team captains and vocal leaders.
It has been a wild ride thru college for Allen. He has had some pain and anguish, and plenty of times of joy.
"Being a 24 year old playing on a team of 18 and 19 year olds has been one of the bigger adjustments I have had to make." Allen said.
Then again basketball has come naturally to a guy who has been playing organized basketball since he was five years old.
As for his current coach this quote pretty much sums up there current relationship:
" Coach has helped me to deal with the frustrations of not being able to compete at the level of my own expectations. He tells me to have fun and control what I can control. He has really helped me to enjoy my time at Rollins, and he reminds me often that it is a miracle that I can play."
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