Lavoy Allen

Lavoy Allen
Born	(1989-02-04) February 4, 1989 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Basketball player
Known for	Professional basketball career; Temple University basketball standout

Lavoy Allen (born February 4, 1989) is a retired American professional basketball athlete, selected 50th overall in the second round of the 2011 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. The son of a truck driver, Allen began dedicating himself to basketball in eighth grade. He played at Pennsbury High School under the guidance of coach Oliver Aaron. Rated as the 14th top center by Rivals.com and ranked 110th overall by Scout.com, he committed to Temple University and coach Fran Dunphy.

During his tenure at Temple, Allen contributed to the team’s qualification for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament every year. He was honored three times on the All-Atlantic 10 Defensive Team and twice on the First Team. In his junior year, he became the first Temple player since the 1970–71 season to average a double-double. Allen initially declared for the 2010 NBA draft but withdrew prior to the deadline. In his senior year, he set Temple’s record for most career rebounds and earned the Robert V. Geasey Trophy as Philadelphia Big Five Player of the Year. Coach Dunphy described him as "possibly the smartest player I have ever coached."

Early life

Born in Trenton, New Jersey on February 4, 1989, Allen is the child of Paula and Dave Allen, who worked as a truck driver. At nine years old, he relocated to Morrisville, Pennsylvania, where he initially faced social challenges. Organized basketball participation was minimal until eighth grade, and early on he concentrated on passing due to limited physical skills. Spurred by early doubts about his height and athleticism, Allen made significant progress despite modest beginnings.

High school career

Allen attended Pennsbury High School, where Frank Sciolla served as head coach. Dalton Pepper, a former Temple player, was among his teammates. After committing to rigorous practice in ninth grade, Allen secured a varsity starting position by his sophomore year. His junior season saw him average 12 points and nine rebounds per contest, earning recognition as one of Hoop Scoop’s Top 150 players.

In his final high school season, Allen posted averages of 13 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, three blocks, and two steals per game. Pennsbury advanced to the second round of the PIAA playoffs before falling to Harrisburg High School. He received Second Team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania honors. Although he tried out for the USA U-19 team, he did not make the final cut. Rivals.com ranked him as the 14th best center nationally in his class while Scout.com placed him at number 110 overall. To cover prom expenses for his date, Allen worked at a daycare.

On November 8, 2006, Allen committed to Temple University over Division I offers from Rutgers, Saint Joseph's, and La Salle. Alongside Dayton signee Chris Wright, he was one of only two ESPN 100 recruits from the class of 2008 to join an Atlantic 10 program.

Freshman

Before starting his freshman year, Allen was selected for the Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team. Expectations were high for him to improve Temple’s rebounding and inside scoring following their prior season’s 12–18 record. In his collegiate debut against #7 Tennessee, Allen tallied eight points and nine rebounds in a losing effort. Between November 18 and December 9, 2007, he scored double digits in six consecutive games. On February 10, 2008, he achieved a season-best 20 points during an overtime victory against UMass with a final score of 80–70. However, he was benched on February 17 versus Dayton due to missing a study assignment.

The Owls completed the season with a 21–13 record and qualified for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2001 as a No.12 seed. They were defeated in the opening round by fifth-seeded Michigan State with a score of 72–61. During this game, Allen posted his first double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds while also making his initial two collegiate three-pointers. He led Temple with 52 blocks and ranked second in field goal percentage (.558), third in rebounds per game (5.7), and fourth in scoring (8.1 points per game). For his efforts, Allen earned All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team recognition.

Sophomore

During his sophomore campaign, Allen improved his scoring output to an average of 10.9 points per contest, ranking second on the squad, while leading the team with 1.56 blocks per game. He achieved a team-high shooting percentage of .579 overall, and his .618 field goal accuracy in conference matchups topped the Atlantic 10. Additionally, he was the team's leading rebounder and placed third in the Atlantic 10 with an average of 9.0 rebounds per game, compiling 14 double-doubles throughout the season. After sustaining a thumb fracture against Lafayette, Allen missed a single game against Buffalo. His peak scoring performance was 23 points in a victory over Rhode Island, complemented by 13 rebounds. Following this standout effort, he received his inaugural Philadelphia Big 5 player of the week award and earned the accolade again after posting 20 points and 18 rebounds versus St. Bonaventure.

By season’s conclusion, Allen secured spots on both the All-Atlantic 10 Third Team and the All-Atlantic 10 Defensive Team. He played a pivotal role in guiding Temple to its second straight Atlantic 10 Tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance, contributing 10 points and 14 rebounds in the title game triumph over Duquesne. In the NCAA tournament’s round of 64, he recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to Arizona State.

Junior

Entering his junior year, Allen was recognized as a Preseason All-Atlantic 10 First Team selection. He averaged a double-double with 11.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, becoming Temple’s first player since the 1970–71 season to maintain such averages. His rebounding mark ranked third in the conference behind Fordham’s Chris Gaston and Duquesne’s Damian Saunders. Leading Temple with a .536 field goal percentage, Allen delivered notable performances including 10 points and 17 rebounds in an upset over #3 Villanova and achieving a career-best 21 rebounds coupled with 17 points in a win against La Salle, which secured Temple’s Philadelphia Big Five championship with an undefeated record.

Allen became Temple’s 46th player to surpass the 1,000-point milestone during a game versus George Washington, earning Atlantic 10 co-player of the week honors. Under his leadership, Temple posted a 29–5 overall record, shared the Atlantic 10 regular season crown at 14–2, captured its third consecutive Atlantic 10 tournament title, and clinched an automatic NCAA tournament bid. Despite being seeded fifth, Temple was upset by #12 Cornell in the opening round despite Allen contributing 11 points.

He earned selections to both the All-Atlantic 10 First Team and Defensive Team along with being named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Fourth District first team, qualifying him for State Farm Division I All-America consideration. The U.S. Basketball Writers Association also honored him on its All-District II team.

Allen briefly declared for the 2010 NBA draft without engaging an agent but withdrew following feedback from a Portland Trail Blazers workout advising him to enhance his offensive capabilities. He officially removed his name before the NCAA deadline to maintain NCAA eligibility.

Senior

Allen was chosen for the USA Select team roster that competed alongside and against the USA National team from July 19 to July 24. Ahead of his senior season, he appeared on watchlists for both the John R. Wooden Award and Naismith College Player of the Year honors. Additionally, he was named preseason All-Atlantic 10 First Team and Defensive Team.

On December 6, Allen earned Atlantic 10 co-player of the week recognition after consecutive double-double performances against Central Michigan and Maryland—both victories for Temple. He suffered an ankle sprain on February 9, 2011, causing him to miss the following game against Dayton. On February 20 versus Saint Joseph's, Allen became Temple’s all-time leading rebounder by surpassing 1,042 career boards. He received conference player of the week honors again on February 28 and scored a career-high of 24 points in the regular season finale against La Salle, securing another Atlantic 10 Player of the Week award.

Temple concluded Allen’s senior year with a record of 26–8 and qualified for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2011. They defeated Penn State in the round of 64 but fell to San Diego State in double overtime; Allen posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in his final collegiate outing. At season’s end, he was named to both the All-Atlantic 10 First Team and Defensive Team and received the Robert V. Geasey Trophy as Philadelphia Big Five Player of the Year.

Within conference play, Allen ranked second in rebounding with an average of 8.4 per game behind Fordham’s Chris Gaston and placed fifth in blocks. He averaged 11.6 points per contest—second highest on Temple’s roster. Over his collegiate tenure, Allen amassed totals of 1,147 rebounds and 1,421 points, ranking him twenty-fourth all-time at Temple University. Coach Fran Dunphy lauded Allen’s basketball intellect as "perhaps the smartest player I've ever coached regarding positioning and understanding of the game."

College performance statistics

|- | align="left" | 2007–08 | align="left" | Temple Owls | 34 || 32 || 29.2 || .558 || .400 || .737 || 5.7 || 1.6 || 0.5 || 1.5 || 8.1 |- | align="left" | 2008–09 | align="left" | Temple Owls | 33 || 31 || 31.3 || .579 || .333 || .642 || 9.0 || 2.1 || 0.4 || 1.5 || 10.9 |- | align="left" | 2009–10 | align="left" | Temple Owls | 35 || 34 || 34.5 || .536 || .217 || .625 || 10.7 || 2.4 || 0.5 || 1.4 || 11.5 |- | align="left" | 2010–11 | align="left" | Temple Owls | 33 || 33 || 33.9 || .480 || .294 || .697 || 8.6 || 2.3 || 0.7 || 1.8 || 11.6

2011 NBA draft

On April 1, 2011, Allen participated in the Reese's College All-Star Game held at Houston's Reliant Center, contributing 11 points and eight rebounds as the East squad fell short with a score of 113–108. ESPN analyst Chad Ford placed him as the 99th-ranked prospect for the 2011 NBA draft. During a workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, Allen suffered an ankle sprain that caused him to miss a session with the New Jersey Nets. Nevertheless, on June 23, the Sixers selected him in the second round with the 50th overall pick, making him the 32nd player from Temple drafted and the first since Mardy Collins in 2006.

Strasbourg IG (2011)

On July 15, 2011, Allen inked a deal with Strasbourg IG competing in France's LNB Pro A, which included an opt-out provision should the NBA lockout conclude by January 30, 2012. At Strasbourg IG, he reunited with former Richmond teammates Kevin Anderson and Justin Harper. Allen made his debut on October 7, tallying 10 points and four rebounds during a narrow 77–74 victory over Cholet Basket. In the following contest against SLUC Nancy Basket, he recorded 12 points alongside a season-high of 13 rebounds. His top scoring performance of the season was a 19-point effort on November 10 in a convincing 93–80 win against Chorale Roanne Basket. Across nine games, Allen averaged 10.1 points and grabbed an average of 7.2 rebounds per contest.

Rookie campaign

Following the conclusion of the NBA lockout, Allen chose to terminate his contract in France to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on December 9, immediately joining their training camp from day one. He made his NBA debut on January 7, 2012, contributing two rebounds in a commanding 97–62 win over the Toronto Raptors. On January 23, due to injuries sidelining centers Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic, Allen received extended minutes against the Washington Wizards, delivering a flawless shooting performance for ten points and securing six rebounds in a decisive 103–83 victory. He achieved season-highs of fifteen points versus the Chicago Bulls on February 1 and twelve rebounds against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 25. Over the course of forty-one regular-season games (including fifteen starts), his averages stood at 4.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Allen showed marked improvement during postseason play, averaging six point three points and four point nine rebounds per game. Head coach Doug Collins appointed him as starting center for the playoff opener against the Bulls. Despite suffering a thumb sprain in Game One, Allen nearly recorded a double-double in Game Two by scoring eleven points and pulling down nine rebounds. The Sixers advanced to face the Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals, where Allen made a pivotal late-game twenty-two foot jumper in Game Two that secured an eighty-two to eighty-one victory. His defensive efforts against star Kevin Garnett earned him substantial minutes throughout the playoffs. The series extended to seven games before Philadelphia was ultimately eliminated by Boston.

2012–13 season

On July 11, 2012, Allen secured a new contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, reportedly agreeing to a two-year deal worth $6 million. He missed two days of training camp in early October due to the birth of his son, Kai. With Andrew Bynum sidelined, Allen assumed the starting center role for most games, concluding his second season with averages of 5.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

2013–14 season

Allen was sidelined for an exhibition match because of a knee injury and attracted negative attention after missing a practice session due to oversleeping. Serving mainly as a backup power forward, he was out for four games in January after suffering a calf strain. Over 51 appearances, he posted averages of 5.2 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Indiana Pacers (2014–2017)

On February 20, 2014, Allen was traded alongside Evan Turner to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Danny Granger and a second-round draft pick. During his time with Indiana that season, he averaged 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in roughly eight minutes per game. Notably, he scored 13 points against his former team on March 14 and recorded a double-double in the final regular-season game versus Orlando. In the summer of 2014, Allen got married.

Allen re-signed with the Pacers on July 11, 2014. Early in the season, he was particularly productive due to injuries affecting other players but missed a game on January 31, 2015, because of knee soreness. Primarily serving as a backup power forward, he averaged 5.0 points and 5.1 rebounds while leading the team in offensive rebounds.

He inked another contract extension with Indiana on July 27, 2015.

During Game 2 of the 2017 playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Allen made headlines by writing "Go Pacers" on the Cavs' home court floor. In June 2017, Indiana opted not to exercise his $3.5 million team option, which rendered him an unrestricted free agent.

Northern Arizona Suns (2018)

Although Allen signed with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China in November 2017, he never joined their roster. Instead, he signed with the Northern Arizona Suns of the NBA G League in February 2018. In his second outing with Northern Arizona, he posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds; he followed this performance with another double-double featuring 12 points and 12 boards. Over his stint there, Allen averaged 9.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting an efficient 58.2 percent from the field.

Capital City Go-Go (2018–2019)

Allen was chosen by the Capital City Go-Go during the G League expansion draft on August 22, 2018. The Washington Wizards invited him to their training camp on September 20 but waived him by October 14. Subsequently, Allen joined their G League affiliate team, the Capital City Go-Go.

Regular season

|- | align="left" | | align="left" | Philadelphia | 41 || 15 || 15.2 || .473 || .000 || .786 || 4.2 || .8 || .3 || .4 || 4.1 |- | align="left" | | align="left" | Philadelphia | 79 || 37 || 21.1 || .454 || .000 || .717 || 5.0 || .9 || .3 || .7 || 5.8 |- | align="left" | | align="left" | Philadelphia | 51 || 2 || 18.8 || .440 || .154 || .675 || 5.4 || 1.3 || .4 || .5 || 5.2 |- | align="left" | | align="left" | Indiana | 14 || 0 || 8.0 || .500 || .000 || .600 || 2.4 || .4 || .1 || .4 || 2.9 |- | align="left" | | align="left" | Indiana | 63 || 0 || 17.0 || .472 || .000 || .702 || 5.1 || 1.2 || .2 || .7 || 5.0 |- | align="left" | | align="left" | Indiana | 79 || 28 || 20.2 || .516 || .000 || .630 || 5.4 || 1.0 || .3 || .5 || 5.4 |- | align="left" | | align="left" | Indiana | 61 || 5 || 14.3 || .458 || .000 || .697 || 3.6 || .9 || .3 || .4 || 2.9 |- class="sortbottom" | align="center" colspan="2"| Career | 388 || 87 || 17.8 || .471 || .133 || .682 || 4.8 || 1.0 || .3 || .6||4.8

Playoff Performance

|- | align="left" | 2012 | align="left" | Philadelphia | 12 || 1 || 19.7 || .557 || .000 || .583 || 4.9 || .3 || .8 || .9 || 6.3 |- | align="left" | 2014 | align="left" | Indiana | 4 || 0 || 3.8 || .500 || .000 || .000 || 1.3 || .3 || .0 || .0 || 1.0 |- | align="left" | 2016 | align="left" | Indiana | 6 || 3 || 8.5 || .300 || .000 || .000 || 2.3 || .3 || .2 || .2 || 1.0 |- class="sortbottom" | align="center" colspan="2"| Overall Playoff Stats | 22 || 4 || 13.7 || .520 || .000 || .583 || 3.5 || .3 || .5 || .5 || 3.9