by Sarah Silva
| Isaiah Allen |
Senior guard Isaiah Allen is one of five returning letterwinners who have helped UTSA get off to a 4-2 start this season. Allen is averaging 6.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 73.7 percent from the free throw line. The Portland, Ore., native took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with goUTSA.com and discuss his hometown, the team and how he got his nickname “Duke.”
What was it like growing up in Portland, Ore.?
“It was a good experience. Portland is a town that likes basketball a lot; kind of like how football is to states down here in the South. We’ve had a couple of guys from the inner city like Damon Stoudamire make it to the NBA, and a lot of kids that grow up in the Portland area dream of being like them.”
How did you handle moving to San Antonio?
“I think I handled it pretty well. I mainly miss the weather and my family in Portland. Coming from junior college in Kansas was a big transition, though. I thought college would just be college, but the classes here are a lot bigger and tougher. When I came out here last summer, the players made me feel welcome and embraced me. I think I’ve made a good adjustment so far.”
What did you do to prepare for this season over the summer and during pre-season, and was it different than last season’s preparation?
“When I came here my first summer, I was just trying to get the classes done and get adjusted to the school. Now that I’ve been here for a year and I knew what to expect, I had more time to work on my basketball game. So pretty much every morning during the summer I would lift weights with Coach Cox and work out with some of my teammates, practicing shooting and dribbling. After class, we would come back and play games as a team, then run the track. Basically my whole summer was class and basketball.”
How do you think you have been doing so far this season?
“I think I’ve been doing ok. I’ve been trying to work on a lot of things as far as just being a leader and being someone that's just trying to lift up my teammates. I’m trying to focus on other things than just scoring points or getting rebounds. I’m trying to focus on things that aren’t on the stats sheet, as far as talking to my teammates and making sure everybody is happy and they know what they’re doing. I’m making sure everyone’s on the same page, because it’s a team game and we can’t do it as individuals. We have to become as collective as we can and just be a unit.”
How has playing for Brooks Thompson and the rest of the coaching staff been?
“It’s been a different experience from my other school, but it has been great. They are all very knowledgeable about the game and they demand a lot out of you. They’re all about winning and so am I.”
In your first season here, you were the team’s second leading scorer. How did you feel about that success?
“If I weren’t the leading scorer or second-leading scorer, it wouldn't really matter to me. I just want to go out there and win. That's my number one thing. However I can help the team, whether it’s scoring, rebounding, steals, whatever it is, that's what I want to do. I want to be a team player; someone who goes out there and does what he has to do to help the team win. Stats don't mean anything to me. It’s good to have them, but all in all it’s about the win.”
How do you handle the demands from school and basketball?
“You just basically have to prioritize your time, stay confident and keep working hard. Sometimes it’s tough because you’re tired from practice, but at the end of the day your teammates are counting on you to get the job done in the classroom.”
What do you think the chances are for UTSA competing for a conference title?
“I think we have a great chance. We aren’t even at full strength, but we still got off to a pretty good start. When the players that are out come back, they will do a great deal in helping us improve as a team. We have all the tools we need as far as guard play and post play, we just need to put it together.”
Is there anything that motivates you as an athlete?
“My main inspiration would have to be my family back home. I know they’re really counting on me as a student-athlete to get my degree and do well here.”
Who is your favorite athlete?
“Dwyane Wade. He has great character, is a great player and he’s just a good person. I like how he acts on and off the court.”
What are your plans after college?
“After college if I don't play anywhere I’m looking to go into coaching either at my junior college or at my high school back home. Then hopefully, I will have a chance to go to grad school for sports management. I want to play professionally, but I know it’s a long shot and it’s going to be tough. If I don't make it, I have a backup plan.”
How did you get the nickname “Duke”?
“My teammates in eighth grade started giving everybody nicknames, and that's just what they decided to give me. Ever since then it just stuck. When I got to high school, it followed me there. It followed me to junior college somehow, and it stuck with me when I came here.”
Do you have any pregame rituals?
“I just pray.”