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Illinois Basketball: Dontaie Allen adds Illini to scholarship list

By Rees Woodcock

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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The Illinois basketball team offered a handful of different players yesterday who could all help the program in the future.

Dontaie Allen was one of those recruits. He is a 6-foot-6, 200-pound shooting guard from Pendleton County High School in Falmouth, Kentucky. He is rated as a three-star recruit who has received a ton of recruiting attention up to this point.

Before yesterday, Allen had around 10 scholarship offers, but his recruitment took a turn upward as some big-name programs took notice. He received offers from the likes of Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, Florida and Illinois on Friday. This was a great day in Allen’s recruitment.

There is also a reason all of these big-name programs are starting to come after Allen as well. He has been amazing in the Under Armour Association UA Challenge. He plays for the M.A.T.T.S Mustangs and has helped the team be competitive or win in every game of the challenge. Allen is averaging 26.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. All of this is coming on 54.5-percent shooting from the field and 40.5-percent from three-point land.

The game Allen would bring to the Illini is a smart one. He has a great basketball mind. A lot of the time in these AAU events, kids are just chucking up shots or trying to get their own to impress some coach that is sitting there. But, with Allen, he is trying to make the right play. He is a great shooter, but he doesn’t take bad shots often. He takes them when they are there or when he can create them. He isn’t afraid to find the open man or hustle for a rebound either.

I think Allen’s recruitment is going to really blow up. It is already trending that way with a big day on Friday but look for the blue bloods to start swimming around him soon.

Next: Illini need to land 2 of the 5 recruits on this list

I really like this offer by the Illini. Allen would come in and help the program right away. He has a great shooting ability and can bring more grit to the team. I at least want Illinois to get an unofficial visit from this kid.

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