Click here to read the full story
Mirin Fader of the Orange County Register takes a look at Cal State Fullerton guard Kyle Allman and how the sophomore has taken his game to a new level this season.
By Mirin Fader | Click here to read the full story
Kyle Allman sprinted toward the basket on a fastbreak. He didn't care that Washington's Markelle Fultz, considered by some to be the No. 1 2017 NBA Draft pick, trailed closely during a non-conference game in November.
Receiving the pass from point guard Lionheart Leslie, Allman leapt toward the sky, hammering the ball over Fultz for the dunk. Though Allman was blocked, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound Brooklyn, N.Y., native landed undeterred, as his motto has always been: attack, attack, attack.
"He's just a dog, man," said guard Jamal Smith, shaking his head, praising Allman's competitiveness. "He always wants to be that Alpha."
But Allman, who worked to mold all aspects of his game in the offseason, is more than athletic. With a silky jab step and crossover, a budding, true mid-range jump-shot — where Allman elevates and releases the ball at its highest peak — he is also the team's lockdown defender. Against Nebraska-Omaha last week he rose up and tossed out an opponent's attempt like a bad dream.
Allman, who averaged 5.1 points a game as a rookie last season, is beginning to break out of his shell. He's averaging 10.1 points 1.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game for the Titans (3-5 through Saturday) as a reliable option next to senior Tre' Coggins.
Something clicked against Portland State in November. Allman dropped a career-high 27 points, including six points in double overtime. Nailing four free throws as time expired, he helped the Titans win, 106-100.
"I think what's happened to him as a sophomore, things have kind of slowed down for him," Titan coach Dedrique Taylor said. "I think that's what we're seeing now: his maturity in finding his own path, his own rhythm."
Follow the Titans!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) Instagram (FullertonTitans) and Snapchat (FullertonTitans). In addition, the men's basketball team has established its own Twitter (@FullertonHoops) and Instagram accounts (FullertonHoops).