“I’ve Been Overlooked”: Alabama Freshman Amari Allen Faces Crucial NBA Draft Decision
Amari Allen grew up in a place where football is religion—Green Bay, Wisconsin.
He just completed his freshman season at another place where football is almost everything, the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. When we caught up to Allen, it was in Chicago, so naturally, we began by asking him how it felt to be in Bears territory.
“Don’t feel too good, you know. I’m a Packer fan,” Allen joked, during an exclusive interview with Ratings, before making it clear that he actually loved to be in The Chi, adding “Chicago is a beautiful city.”
It’s hard to determine whose football fanbase is more obsessive, the Green Bay Packers or the Alabama Crimson Tide.
And while football will always come first in ‘Bama, the men’s basketball program is on the upswing, thanks to head coach Nate Oats. This season marked the Tide’s fourth straight Sweet 16 appearance, and fifth within the past six years.Oats also led the program to its first-ever Final Four in 2024.
Allen said it feels good to be a part of the process that built up the program.
“Oats built the program from the ground up,” he said.
“And getting to the Sweet 16, that’s not something we celebrate around here. You know we’re happy to be here, but it’s the standard.
“If we don’t make it here, it’s a horrible year for us. We expect Final Fours- anything less than that, it’s a disappointment for us.
“Oats being able to build this program to where that’s what we expect, it’s something that’s been really special to be a part of.”
Feeling “Underrated”
The Green Bay native was the state of Wisconsin’s “Gatorade Player of the Year” in 2025, during his only season at Ashwaubenon High School. During this stellar season, Allen averaged 34.1 points, 11.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 2.6 steals per game.
In high school, he was a four-star recruit with offers from Wisconsin, Mizzou, Ohio State, and Cincinnati, in addition to Alabama.
However, Allen has sometimes spoken publicly of feeling that he’s “underrated” in interviews.
“Coming out of high school, I wasn’t ranked high,” Allen told us.
“I feel like I’ve been overlooked pretty much all through high school. Even early in college, I’m starting to get some notice recently, but I feel like I’m still underrated in that aspect.”
He’s currently projected to be a late first-round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, should he decide he wants to leave school right now and go pro. Or at least fully professional, as the current state of college basketball is now semi-pro ball.
The deadline to decide is May 1, so he still has some time to figure it out.
Allen can declare for the draft, participate in the NBA Scouting Combine, and then make a decision based upon the feedback that he receives, which will gauge the perceived value of his draft stock.
If he can somehow work his way up closer to the level of the lottery picks (top 14), then he would, or at least should, stay in the draft.
If his draft grade stays around where it is now (a low first-rounder), then going back to school would probably make more sense because Allen would then avoid the risk of falling into the second round of the draft, where contracts don’t always come with stipulations of guaranteed money. It is only in the first round that contracts for draft picks include a level of guaranteed income.
Taking Advice on Draft Process
A great role model for Allen, who has already weighed up the pros and cons of this monumental decision, is his (now former) teammate and point guard, Labaron Philon Jr.
Philon was among the prospects who went through the predraft process last year before ultimately opting to return to school before the deadline. And during this past season, he more than doubled his offensive production over his freshman season, while earning several award honors along the way.
And last year at this time, the Tide point guard was viewed as a potential second-rounder, but this draft season, he’s a likely lottery pick, after declaring for the draft again.
Philon discussed what he learned from “testing the waters” last offseason.
“It really wasn’t anything that I had to change,” Philon said, ahead of the loss to eventual national champion Michigan in the Sweet 16.
“It was just about the type of shots that I was getting and the confidence level.
“I feel like when I was working in the summer, my confidence just grew so much that every shot that I shot, I thought it was going in.
“That’s how I play the game of basketball now.
“I didn’t really have to change anything in my shot mechanics or anything like that; just getting extra reps in and building that confidence.”
Improving His Skillset
Philon saw all his shooting percentages significantly increase from 2024-25 to 2025-26, and perhaps Allen could do the same next season, should he decide to stay in Tuscaloosa.
After all, it’s the top facet of his game that he’s currently working on.
“I want to get more consistent with my shot, you know that can always get better,” Allen responded, when asked what he’s working on, specifically, to improve his game.
“My pace, my ball screen reads, I feel like that’s something I can get better at.
“And then just sometimes my rim decisions, knowing when to get to two, knowing when to go off of one. I feel like those are the main things I can really improve on.”
Just having completed his freshman season, Allen has a lot of room left to grow. However, he also brings a lot to the proverbial table, and he discussed that too.
“I would definitely say my reads,” Allen responded when asked what he believes are his biggest strengths as a player.
“I feel I have a good feel for the game, my IQ, I feel like I see the game super well. I don’t really get sped up.
He then continued: “I kind of play at my own speed. And then I would definitely say my effort, my hustle, being able to go get rebounds and all that stuff.”
Nowadays, college athletes have more rights than ever, and there are added monetary opportunities to be had while staying in school. Amari Allen can wait until the time is absolutely right before he makes the jump to the Association.