Derrick Allen might secretly be dreaming of the London Olympics in 2012 as being a opponent for 100 meter record holder Usain Bolt from Jamaica as he was clocked at 10,7 on the track in Frankfurt last week, but one thing that wont be a dream to anyone will be his ballerina moves that he will discharge again in BBL arenas with the same intensity and ferocity of when Mike Tyson is beating up a life size Evander Holyfield punching bag.

Allen has used his ballerina moves to near perfection and it is something he learned through the years, that one could almost warrant a patent for the Derrick Allen ballerina move in 2009.

“All the post moves that I use, I got from watching different big men, while I was growing up. I think, I used them so much is because most of the post guys I go against are 10-20 kilo’s heavier than me. So I got to use my quickness, and fakes too keep the defenders off balance, but I hope I will be able too use those moves more this season”, stressed Allen.

The 29 year old American had his lowest scoring season last season, but is still a pest to defend on the court and seems to be getting better by age.

“His game is so unorthodox and he just out works his oppoonet on every play wheather it’s a loose ball, rebound or steal. He is always first to the ball”, said ex Giessen 46er Ricky Hickman.

Allen is starting his third season in Frankfurt with the Deutsche Bank Skyliners and this could be the season where the BBL witnesses the total beast in the friendly American from Alabama as he unleashes it on the court. Allen who has primarily been known as a scorer all his life and was the number one option his first five seasons as he played a season in Iceland and In Germany for Karlsruhe, Leverkusen and Frankfurt. However last season, he returned to Frankfurt for his second season and was met with a very talented and deep roster. He didn´t get the ball as much anymore like in previous seasons, but down the stretch in the second half of the season, he was the Skyliners best player as he showed his consistent game scoring in double figures in 15 of 19 games despite averaging ten minutes less than the previous season.

Last season was not an easy one as Allen´s production fell from 18.1ppg 7.3rpg, 1.9apg in the 2007-2008 season to 12.9ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.7apg in 2008-2009. Despite this big decrease, the deepness of the Frankfurt roster might of hidden his production, but throughout the years, the American has matured into a player that can also do other vital things besides lighting up the score board.

“Derrick is a leader. He doesn´t have to score a lot of points to have presence felt on the court”, expressed 2008-2009 BBL scoring champion Omari Westley.

With training camp in full swing and the 2009-2010 BBL season always coming closer, it seems like it could be a difficult season for The Deutsche Bank Skyliners as the team lost 8 players from the potent 2008-2009 team with only captain Pascal Roller, Jimmy McKinney, Dominik Bahiense de Mello and Derrick Allen remaining. With many young new players coming to Frankfurt with Fabian Franke, Grayson Moyer, Filmore Beck and Quarraan Calhoun, it seems like the role of Allen will make a drastic 180 degree turn this season.

“Derrick is going to be looked to shoulder a heavier load this season in order for Frankfurt to keep up with other teams in the league. This will be his team”,warned Ricky Hickman.

Allen is not blind has seen the changes with the organization, but is still 100% focused on the new season.

“Me as a player, I would like too play international competition every year, but the club decided not too. But that didnt really factor in my decision to come back to Frankfurt, so it didnt disappoint me too much”, said Allen.

With less experience present in Frankfurt and captain Pascal Roller the typical chief that leads by example, the team will an additional player that can not only lead by his superb play on the court, but also get in a players face when some minor disciplining will be in order and that is a task that Allen could master.

“I have always been a lead by example type guy, but I think this year I will have too be more vocal on and off the court. And that started last season with helping the younger guys, but I think me being a leader with Pascal will be a big key too our success this season”, warned Derrick Allen.

Scoring wont be a problem for Allen as he has done it all his life. Even though Allen has belonged to the best players in the BBL since 2004 and was the BBL scoring champion in 2007 with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen and second best scorer in 2008 with the Deutsche Bank Skyliners, and is a guy that would lift his glass in a restaurant 50 times just to get stronger, he has stayed very down to earth to what his role should be and not in any way commanding due to his basketball resume.

“I just come in ready too play every season like the one before. As a go-to-guy, so if I am the main focus again, I wouldnt be so suprised, but we will just have too wait and see until the season starts”, said a very humble Allen.

Even though he is modest about his capabilities, a scorer will always be a scorer and never be expected not to score.

“Scoring is easy for a player of Derrick´s calibur. He has done it for so long that it has become second nature, so I don’t believe that he will have any problems being the main focus again. I see Derrick giving you 18 points and 8 boards if you give him the ball”, stressed Omari Westley.

Offense is an aspect of Allen´s game that is about as immaculate as the current running success of Usain Bolt. Bolt has his world record and can only break it, while Allen might see moonlighting as a 100 meter runner in the future, is still shooting for a BBL title and improving his game. On offense, he has become rather perilous with his passing game, which he worked on the last two summers.

“I think my passing and dribble penetration improved from last season the most. I worked on my passing, because I had problems passing out of double teams, or finding the open guy with the defense on me”, said Allen.

Passing isn´t the only thing that Allen has improved on. Since his first two seasons in Karlsruhe, three years have passed and the work out ethic of Allen has really paid off.

“Derrick has gotten a lot more consistent. His shot is a lot more reliable and his condition is simply unbelievable and a lot better than his first season in Karlsruhe”, stressed ex teammate Rouven Roessler of BG Karlsruhe.

Critics have never been courteous to Allen about his defense, but detractors are hiding behind their note books and don’t get into the jungle on the court.

“Derrick is a great team defender. And with the way Frankfurt plays defense, there isn´t much one on one defense. He and Frankfurt locked me pretty good in two of the three games. But critics are going to be critics. Without them, what is there to talk about”, added Omari Westley.

It will be interesting to see what kind of season The Deutsche Bank Skyliners will have. No matter if Frankfurt is up by 30 points or down by 20 points, you will always see the same focused game face of Derrick Allen. He gives 180% if he is totally healthy, or even after he dived into the third row to save a ball and returned with some pain. It doesn´t matter what condition there is, Allen is all business on the court and another reason why he may be the most respected player in the BBL.

“His energy is amazing. He practices as hard as he plays”, added Omari Westley.

It has been somewhat of a riddle why Allen has stayed in Germany for five years, when he surely could of gone south to play in countries like Spain or Italy. The BBL and The Deutsche Bank Skyliners are not complaining. Some ex BBL players who took the route south didn´t forget what Allen can do and cherish playing in the same uniform one day an are all business and to the point while being quoted the same way Allen is doing his havoc on the court.

“Derrick is an active player, can score and is a player I would love to play with”, stressed Demond Mallet of Turk Telekom in Turkey.

Allen´s primary focus is the 2009-2010 BBL season with The Deutsche Bank Skyliners, but with his unending eagerness to succeed, he could possibly be training secretly for the 2010 London Olymics to challenge Usain Bolt in the 100 meter run.