Friday, April 14, 2006
BLUE HOSE MEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNEE WALT ALLEN
NAMED 2006 KENTUCKY MR. BASKETBALL
CLINTON, S.C. — Presbyterian College men‘s basketball signee Walt Allen has been selected as the 2005-06 Mr. Basketball for the state of Kentucky announced today at a news conference held at the state capital in Frankfort, Ky. Allen signed with the Blue Hose during the early signing period in the fall.
Allen, a 6-5, 225-pound forward from London, Kentucky, was one of three finalist for the Mr. Basketball Award that were brought to the state capital this morning for the announcement. Allen played at South Laurel High School for head coach Steve Wright. During his junior year at South Laurel, he averaged 19 points and 9.5 rebounds per game en route to being named MVP of the 2005 Kentucky State Basketball Tournament in which he led his squad to it’s first ever state championship.
“We were very excited to sign a player of Walt’s caliber in the early signing period and for him to be named Mr. Basketball for the state of Kentucky just shows you how great a student-athlete he is on and off the court.” said Blue Hose head coach Gregg Nibert. “We believe that Walt has the whole package as a player and a person.”
This season, Allen averaged 15.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, shot 59 percent from the field and had a team-high 71 steals and 46 blocks, while helping South Laurel to return to the Sweet Sixteen of the state tournament. Earlier this year, Allen was named to the top spot on the Lexington Herald-Leader’s All-State team, and was named the 2005-06 Associated Press and Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Kentucky.
“This honor is coming on the heels of Presbyterian College’s recent announcement concerning the transition to NCAA Division I. This is a great example to the type of student-athlete that PC will attract with this move to Division I,” said Nibert.
Allen finished his career with 1,921 points (the all-time leading boys' scorer in Laurel County) and 915 rebounds. In all, Allen played in seven state tournament games and totaled 120 points, 52 rebounds, 10 assists, and nine blocked shots.