Dontaie Allen has been working to improve his ballhandling during the offseason. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Many Kentucky fans not only expected Dontaie Allen to transfer but thought he should after last season.
He had some terrific games for the Wildcats but seemed to have a hard time fully convincing coach John Calipari that he needed more playing time. Allen got his first real chance for extended time at Mississippi State in the game Calipari was ejected and he had 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting.
He had 14 points at Vanderbilt the next game but hit double figures in just one more regular-season game. In the final nine regular-season games he had just eight points and four of the final five games he played less than four minutes.
But with UK facing a must-win game in the SEC Tournament, he had 23 points in 29 minutes in the loss to Mississippi State that ended UK’s 9-16 season.
The transfer portal would have made it easy for him to find schools interested in him and he would have been eligible to play next season. Calipari brought in two shooters — Kellan Grady and CJ Frederick — from the transfer portal. Still, Allen never thought of leaving.
He explained why during the media time at UK’s satellite camp at Ryle High School in northern Kentucky Wednesday.
“The biggest thing for me was I pride myself in working hard. I’m not a quitter by any means,” Allen said.
“So, coming back, it was more, what else do I got to add into my regimen? What do I have to do differently?”
That’s the attitude Kentucky fans love in a home-state player and why he remains one of the most popular Wildcats. He knows his playing time might be even harder to earn this season with the new players Calipari has brought in but that does not intimidate him.
Still, it could be difficult. Calipari last week indicated he was putting a higher premium on shooting but added even a shooter had to play defense and not turn the ball over, complaints he often brought up about Allen last year.
But those who know Allen would not be surprised that the competition does not scare him. Instead, he’s glad to have more shooters on the team.
“I was that kind of player last year. That’s what we needed on the team. I can show more of my total game,” Allen said.
