The next installment of Beantown Background, as well as the Boston Celtics third selection in the 2017 NBA Draft, is Kadeem Allen.
Allen took the unique route of junior college before moving on to the University of Arizona. Allen attended Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas, for the first two years of his college career. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard was named 2014 National JUCO (Junior College) Player of the Year by both the NABC and NJCAA, and was a first-team all american both seasons. During his sophomore season and final season with Hutchinson, Allen averaged 25.9 points, 5.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
As a member of the Wildcats, Allen chose to redshirt his junior season, which was his first season with the team. During his redshirt junior season, though, Allen took on the role of starting point guard for the Wildcats. He averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game during his junior year and 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game during his senior season. He also lead his team in season steals (53) and saw a 6 percent increase in 3-point shooting percentage (from 36 percent to 42).
Allen signed a two-way contract with the Celtics for this upcoming season, which means he can spend a maximum of 45 days with the team, and the rest will be spent with their G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. It will allow him to get a taste of the NBA despite Boston’s filled backcourt, and allows the Celtics to keep him around at a low price.
While Allen isn’t expected to make an immediate impact this year, and he can’t spend more even two months with the Celtics, his hopes are that he will grow into a player for future rosters.
