By RYAN METZ
Special to the Leader
After scoring seven points, snagging three rebounds and blocking five shots in a district win over Georgetown on Jan. 28, Leonard Allen Jr. emerged from the home team's locker room.
"I'm not very good at these," he muttered before the postgame interview.
Draped in his maroon and white Round Rock Dragon sweat suit, the sophomore's confidence has yet to match his imposing 6-foot-10-inch frame.
Much like his nascent game, his communication skills are still a work in progress. Understandable, given the fact that Allen Jr. just turned 16 on Jan. 12 and doesn't own a driver's license.
You get the sense that Allen Jr. would rather scramble home and play video games than have the spotlight on him for an interview, but this year's spotlight is dim compared to what it is projected to be by scouts in coming years.
HEIGHT IS IN THE GENES
Allen Jr.'s aircraft-carrier length and height are no shock if you've ever seen his parents. His father, Leonard Allen Sr., is 6-10 and a former professional basketball player. His mother, Cheryl, is 6-4 and, though she never played basketball, she still beams when she talks about her hook shot.
At Lincoln High in Port Arthur, Allen Sr. won a state title - while being named the tournament's MVP - in 1981 before playing collegiately at San Diego State.
After a four-year career with the Aztecs, the Dallas Mavericks selected him with their fourth pick, as the 50th player chosen in the 1985 NBA draft.
The Mavericks were glutted with big men, so Allen Sr. took his talents to Europe. He played in Spain, France, South America and the CBA.
He settled back in San Diego with Cheryl where they started their family.
As the price of living in Southern California rose they uprooted and moved to Round Rock.
"Our house was getting a little too small," Allen Sr. said. "Leonard was in sixth grade and it was a good time to move and we looked for the best place to raise a child."
While Allen Jr. shies away from the spotlight, Allen Sr. is on the other end of the spectrum. He's a cheery, loquacious man who works at a height-modified desk as a computer tech supporter.
"Like everyone else in Round Rock, I work at Dell," he said smiling. "Believe it or not we have some tall guys on my department. One guy is 6-7, another is 6-6."
The Allens' youngest son, Jarrett, is 6-3 and attends Walsh Middle School. His seventh grade basketball team is undefeated and routinely blows teams out by 20 points, according to Jarrett's proud dad.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SONS
It comes as no surprise that the Allen boys learned the game from their dad, whether it's through a friendly game of 21 in the driveway or a lesson on fundamental post moves.
"He's the one that has started me with the game," Allen Jr. said. "We work with medicine balls, jump rope and all that stuff helps."
Adds his dad: "We get out there and play, and it's really a bonding time. It's hard to find the time during the season but during the summer we really like to play together."
And does Allen Jr.'s game resemble his dad's?
"His shot is almost as pretty as mine," Allen Sr. joked. "It's such a sweet stroke and if he can get his shot off over me he can get it over a lot of people."
Allen Jr.'s shot is well ahead of his post moves at this point. It is flawless in form with a high arch and perfect backspin. His range extends to about 18 feet on the court, and he's even buried a 3-pointer this season.
"We want him to have that range because can shoot anywhere inside the arc and he has great touch," Round Rock coach Cody Blake said. "Now, we don't want him to be a perimeter player because there aren't any other 6-10 kids in this area."
His game is blossoming at the pace his coach and father expect.
Allen Jr. finished the season averaging 7.7 points per game, while shooting 61 percent from the field. He pulled down 4.1 rebounds per game, while blocking 2.0 and altering countless more as the keystone of the Dragons' zone defense.
"The beauty of it is he hasn't played a lot, but his potential is there," said Blake, whose team finished 15-20 and didn't make the playoffs.
Allen Jr. played on the freshman team last year as he adjusted his play to a faster-paced game.
"When he got to high school we told him he's got to learn to play above the rim," Blake said. "In middle school he was always a foot taller than everyone."
GROWING HIS GAME
To stand nearly 7-foot and have a basketball pedigree is one thing, but Allen Jr. is slowly becoming a student of the game.
"People used to always criticize me and say 'Why don't you have those kids with a basketball in their hands 24 hours a day,' but you know what, they're kids," Allen Sr. said. "Go ahead and play your video games and enjoy your life.
"When the time comes people are going to be all over him and he doesn't need to worry about that now. I really do feel that because he's a kid that still has that joy for learning."
Along with learning the game and what it takes to improve, he is growing into his body, adjusting to the physical play inside the paint.
"I am getting more comfortable on the offensive side. I'm learning to do more moves," Allen Jr. said. "(Teammates) Zach (Chambers) and Lavelt (Francois) have helped me get more physical."
Right now he's a spindly 190 pounds, but the six meals he eats each day should help him reach his goal weight of 210 pounds for next season. Before a recent game he wolfed down a foot-long sandwich and a box of chicken.
"When the season started he was afraid to go inside on us," said Chambers, a senior with a football mentality and one of the most physical players in District 16-5A. "Now he's inside hitting me as hard as a linebacker on the football team. His strength and confidence has improved a lot."
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
Allen Jr.'s doctors forecasted that he will be 7-2 when fully grown and he already has a wingspan of 7-6.
"It's something incredible, something like he can touch both ends of Texas," his dad said.
Allen Jr.'s measurements right now are enough to bring a parade of top-tier college basketball coaches to the stands in the Round Rock High gymnasium.
He's receiving several letters a month from schools, including Syracuse and North Carolina.
Allen Sr. understands the interest in his oldest son, but he said he's not buying into the hype or being corralled by AAU coach clingers and their big promises.
"Coaches out in Houston are offering to fly him out for the week," he said. "Come on now, that's crazy. We live in Round Rock."
Allen Jr. will play AAU ball for the Elite ATX team this summer.
"His best basketball might not come on this court," said his dad following a game at Round Rock. "You see those glimpses and plays every now and it's like 'wow'. It's not awkward. You start to see that there is something special."
His high school coach hopes he gets to reap the benefits.
"I think over the next two years you're going to see him turn into a special player," Blake said. "As far as Leonard is concerned it's all upside. He's taking AP classes and is a good student. We're just excited to have him here."
Allen Jr. understands a lot is expected.
"I plan on being a major contributor next year," he said. "I want to body up everyone I see. Be the big man on the court."
"I'm not very good at these," he muttered before the postgame interview.
Draped in his maroon and white Round Rock Dragon sweat suit, the sophomore's confidence has yet to match his imposing 6-foot-10-inch frame.
Much like his nascent game, his communication skills are still a work in progress. Understandable, given the fact that Allen Jr. just turned 16 on Jan. 12 and doesn't own a driver's license.
You get the sense that Allen Jr. would rather scramble home and play video games than have the spotlight on him for an interview, but this year's spotlight is dim compared to what it is projected to be by scouts in coming years.
HEIGHT IS IN THE GENES
Allen Jr.'s aircraft-carrier length and height are no shock if you've ever seen his parents. His father, Leonard Allen Sr., is 6-10 and a former professional basketball player. His mother, Cheryl, is 6-4 and, though she never played basketball, she still beams when she talks about her hook shot.
At Lincoln High in Port Arthur, Allen Sr. won a state title - while being named the tournament's MVP - in 1981 before playing collegiately at San Diego State.
After a four-year career with the Aztecs, the Dallas Mavericks selected him with their fourth pick, as the 50th player chosen in the 1985 NBA draft.
The Mavericks were glutted with big men, so Allen Sr. took his talents to Europe. He played in Spain, France, South America and the CBA.
He settled back in San Diego with Cheryl where they started their family.
As the price of living in Southern California rose they uprooted and moved to Round Rock.
"Our house was getting a little too small," Allen Sr. said. "Leonard was in sixth grade and it was a good time to move and we looked for the best place to raise a child."
While Allen Jr. shies away from the spotlight, Allen Sr. is on the other end of the spectrum. He's a cheery, loquacious man who works at a height-modified desk as a computer tech supporter.
"Like everyone else in Round Rock, I work at Dell," he said smiling. "Believe it or not we have some tall guys on my department. One guy is 6-7, another is 6-6."
The Allens' youngest son, Jarrett, is 6-3 and attends Walsh Middle School. His seventh grade basketball team is undefeated and routinely blows teams out by 20 points, according to Jarrett's proud dad.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SONS
It comes as no surprise that the Allen boys learned the game from their dad, whether it's through a friendly game of 21 in the driveway or a lesson on fundamental post moves.
"He's the one that has started me with the game," Allen Jr. said. "We work with medicine balls, jump rope and all that stuff helps."
Adds his dad: "We get out there and play, and it's really a bonding time. It's hard to find the time during the season but during the summer we really like to play together."
And does Allen Jr.'s game resemble his dad's?
"His shot is almost as pretty as mine," Allen Sr. joked. "It's such a sweet stroke and if he can get his shot off over me he can get it over a lot of people."
Allen Jr.'s shot is well ahead of his post moves at this point. It is flawless in form with a high arch and perfect backspin. His range extends to about 18 feet on the court, and he's even buried a 3-pointer this season.
"We want him to have that range because can shoot anywhere inside the arc and he has great touch," Round Rock coach Cody Blake said. "Now, we don't want him to be a perimeter player because there aren't any other 6-10 kids in this area."
His game is blossoming at the pace his coach and father expect.
Allen Jr. finished the season averaging 7.7 points per game, while shooting 61 percent from the field. He pulled down 4.1 rebounds per game, while blocking 2.0 and altering countless more as the keystone of the Dragons' zone defense.
"The beauty of it is he hasn't played a lot, but his potential is there," said Blake, whose team finished 15-20 and didn't make the playoffs.
Allen Jr. played on the freshman team last year as he adjusted his play to a faster-paced game.
"When he got to high school we told him he's got to learn to play above the rim," Blake said. "In middle school he was always a foot taller than everyone."
GROWING HIS GAME
To stand nearly 7-foot and have a basketball pedigree is one thing, but Allen Jr. is slowly becoming a student of the game.
"People used to always criticize me and say 'Why don't you have those kids with a basketball in their hands 24 hours a day,' but you know what, they're kids," Allen Sr. said. "Go ahead and play your video games and enjoy your life.
"When the time comes people are going to be all over him and he doesn't need to worry about that now. I really do feel that because he's a kid that still has that joy for learning."
Along with learning the game and what it takes to improve, he is growing into his body, adjusting to the physical play inside the paint.
"I am getting more comfortable on the offensive side. I'm learning to do more moves," Allen Jr. said. "(Teammates) Zach (Chambers) and Lavelt (Francois) have helped me get more physical."
Right now he's a spindly 190 pounds, but the six meals he eats each day should help him reach his goal weight of 210 pounds for next season. Before a recent game he wolfed down a foot-long sandwich and a box of chicken.
"When the season started he was afraid to go inside on us," said Chambers, a senior with a football mentality and one of the most physical players in District 16-5A. "Now he's inside hitting me as hard as a linebacker on the football team. His strength and confidence has improved a lot."
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
Allen Jr.'s doctors forecasted that he will be 7-2 when fully grown and he already has a wingspan of 7-6.
"It's something incredible, something like he can touch both ends of Texas," his dad said.
Allen Jr.'s measurements right now are enough to bring a parade of top-tier college basketball coaches to the stands in the Round Rock High gymnasium.
He's receiving several letters a month from schools, including Syracuse and North Carolina.
Allen Sr. understands the interest in his oldest son, but he said he's not buying into the hype or being corralled by AAU coach clingers and their big promises.
"Coaches out in Houston are offering to fly him out for the week," he said. "Come on now, that's crazy. We live in Round Rock."
Allen Jr. will play AAU ball for the Elite ATX team this summer.
"His best basketball might not come on this court," said his dad following a game at Round Rock. "You see those glimpses and plays every now and it's like 'wow'. It's not awkward. You start to see that there is something special."
His high school coach hopes he gets to reap the benefits.
"I think over the next two years you're going to see him turn into a special player," Blake said. "As far as Leonard is concerned it's all upside. He's taking AP classes and is a good student. We're just excited to have him here."
Allen Jr. understands a lot is expected.
"I plan on being a major contributor next year," he said. "I want to body up everyone I see. Be the big man on the court."
Published in the Round Rock Leader on Feb. 24, 2011.
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