‘A kid from Kentucky’ leaving ‘dream school.’ Dontaie Allen enters the transfer portal.
An offseason following a shocking defeat in the NCAA Tournament figured to feature numerous changes for the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team.
The first of those came Thursday when redshirt sophomore guard and 2019 Kentucky Mr. Basketball Dontaie Allen announced on Twitter that he had placed his name in the NCAA’s transfer portal.
“Wow. This journey has been like no other,” Allen tweeted. “I can’t thank Big Blue Nation enough for embracing me unconditionally through the highs and lows. A kid from Kentucky given an unbelievable opportunity to play for his dream school.
“This wouldn’t feel right without thanking all of my coaches, brothers, the trainers, the staff, Big Blue Nation, and everyone who made my last three years so special. Lexington, Kentucky, will forever be home.
“After much thought and consideration, I have decided to put my name into the transfer portal.”
Allen, who sat out his freshman year at Kentucky to recover from a knee injury that ended his high school career at Pendleton County, averaged 2.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 6.4 minutes per game in 19 appearances this season. Last year, Allen played in 22 games, started one and averaged 5.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 14 minutes per game.
“Dontaie has been an incredible teammate and brought a lot to our program,” Kentucky Coach John Calipari said in a statement Thursday. “He battled to overcome an injury early and never let the adversity change who he was. Proud of you, Dontaie! Thank you for the last three years and I wish you nothing but success on your journey!”
Allen has had a distinctive basketball life. He went from being one of the most prolific scorers in the history of Kentucky high school basketball to an ultra UK fan favorite despite hardly ever playing.
Allen scored 3,255 points and grabbed 1,228 rebounds playing for Pendleton County High School. Those were the 11th- and 22nd-best totals for a player in Kentucky high school basketball history. His senior season ended on Dec. 22, 2018, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Allen did not play in the 2019-20 season as a freshman for UK as he recovered from knee surgery.
For whatever reason, Kentucky’s games against Mississippi State brought out the best in Allen.
Of the 12 categories for career highs that UK lists for players, six of Allen’s came in games against Mississippi State. That included 23 points twice in the 2020-21 season. He also made a career-high seven three-point shots (in 11 attempts) in UK’s victory at Mississippi State last season and then six more (in 13 attempts) when Kentucky lost to State in the 2021 SEC Tournament.
Allen had a more modest five points against Mississippi State when the teams played this season on Jan. 25. But those were the only points he scored since November. And his one three-point basket (in five attempts) was his only one since November.
Allen’s productive play against Mississippi State puzzled then-Bulldogs coach Ben Howland.
“We were really ready for him,” Howland said after this season’s game. “We explained to our team. He still hit a three on us after not playing much for them this year. . . . I’d like to know what his explanation is, to be honest.”
Allen did not play in UK’s last six games nor in nine of the last 12.
Other than the Mississippi State game, he only played 11-plus minutes after December.
This story was originally published March 24, 2022 at 11:49 AM.
