John Allen is a 26 year old 196 cm shooting guard/small forward, who is playing for The New York Phantoms Braunschweig this season. He is a a swingman who can be a huge problem for lots of defenses; can deliver some driving dunks and also display a deft shooting touch from the perimeter; and this double dimension make him a very tough player to guard. He comes from Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Allen went to Seton Hall from 2001-2005 and was a very important player in his time there. He never averaged less than 11,4ppg in his four years. His most productive season was the 2002-2003 season where he played 30 games averaging 14.0ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.7apg.

He took no time resting a few months after graduation and in May signed with the New Jersey Flyers of the USBL playing 21 games and averaging 21.7ppg, 7.2rpg, 3.0apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 47.7%, 3FGP: 39.0%, FT: 73.8%. He then went to Finland for the 2005-2006 season playing for Kouvolan Kouvot playing 44 games and averaging 19.8ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.6apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 81.9%. In 2006-2007, he went to Israel to play for Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan playing 27 games and averaging 15.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 46.3%, FT: 81.5%. In 2007-2008, he had his first tenure with The New York Phantoms Braunschweig playing 34 games and averaging 13.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.7apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 28.3%, FT: 75.4%. Lasts eason, he played in France for Strassburg playing 31 games and averaging 8.5ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 84.7%.

John spoke to German Hoops over the phone during training camp a day before he got injured and will miss two months.

John, thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome back to Germany and Braunschweig. You were a fan favourite back in the 2007-2008 season in Braunschweig. Was that one of the main reasons why you decided to come back?

It was a very comfortable situation for me coming back to Braunschweig. I had heard good things about the coach and I feel that we can reach the playoffs. With adding me making the playoffs would be even greater. This is a goal for the club since it has not been back to the playoffs in a while.

Last season, you played at Strassburg in the France PRO A, but living so close to Germany might of not let you forget your memories in Braunschweig? How French was Strasburg? Did you experience many German influences living so close to Germany?

There were some German influences, My house was only five minutes from the boarder. I loved the Strassburg. The city and people were great there. The only problem was that the coach and I didn´t really see eye to eye.

What did you miss most from Braunschweig and what did you visit first when you returned back to Braunschweig this summer?

The thing I missed most were my teammates from the 2007-2008 BBL season. There were many Americans and we got a long very well. We hung out a lot together. The first place I visited when I returned was a restaurant called Mo mo´s.

The last weeks have been like a rollercoaster. When the news came that American Andrew Drevo had left, how disappointed were you? How was the atmosphere in the team? Being without Kyle Visser and Andrew Drevo was a huge void to fill.

I didn´t really know what to expect at first when I heard about Drevo going, and to this day I still am a bit unclear as to what exactly happened. When Oliver Braun told me he was gone, he also told me that Nate Fox would be coming in which made me happy. I remember Nate well from Leverkusen. I was sure that whoever they would bring in, we would still be competitive no matter what. We would still have same approach if we had a Fox or another guy. Fox can do so many things that Drevo did and more. Fox is a leader and will help us right away.

But then all of a sudden and within 24 hours management went to work signing German national player Yassin Idbihi and experienced Nate Fox. I guess when that happened, the basketball world looked a lot different again for the organization? In the 2007-2008 season, you played against Nate Fox. Could he be the X-factor in the team and what do you remember the most from his game?

I remember Nate as a guy that could do it all. He could shoot and rebound and hit the big shots. It was a shock for me when he got suspended from the BBL, because he was on his way of becoming BBL MVP. Another thing that I like about his play is that he is very aggressive.

The 2009-2010 New York Phantoms Braunschweig seem to be very solid with a solid 8 man rotation and young Germans Kevin Wysocki, Tony Granz and Philipp Friedel to round out the roster. What is your first impression of this team. You have a lot of scorers and experience as well. Are you a worthy playoff team?

We just have to put it all together now. We can be a playoff team. We have a solid rotation. When Heiko Schaffartzik comes to the team we will get an added bonus and I feel that we will be able to surprise a lot of teams. However we have to continue to work hard and find the right chemistry. We have one ball and many scorers so finding that right chemistry will be key. We have a healthy mix of old and young guys. In the pre season, young guys have been getting more playing time as other guys have been banged up. We are still making mistakes but that is what the pre season is about so we don’t make those mistakes during the season.

How difficult has it been practicing without starting point guard Heiko Schaffartzik? Do you think he will be able to quickly come form the German National team and quickly be able to adapt to his new team and playmaking duties?

I don’t really know exactly what his role will be, but he can really play. I was watching the Germany games and he can really shoot the ball. He can play the two position as Hamann was playing point guard. It is simply great bringing in a quality player like Schaffartzik. He will play a big role for us and the sky is the limit for us.

With guys like yourself, Fox, Cain, Schaffartzik, and Idbihi, you pretty much know what you will get. However a guy I am looking forward to will be Michael Hicks. He was the third best scorer in Poland. Is he a guy that could be explosive and change the momentum of a game in the BBL?

Michael can be very explosive. He has shown in the preseason that he can play 18 minutes and score 27 points. He can quickly score 10 points in five minutes. He will really help us since the club was lacking a scorer from the wing in the past. He will be a big weapon and can really light it ip. I am really looking forward to seeing what he will do against the many different defenses this season.

Tomasz Cielebak is very experienced having played 12 seasons in Poland and also got experience playing NCAA basketball at Marist. What part of his game will help the team most?

He is a pick and pop type of player. He can shoot well when guys like myself penetrate and can help in the post. He can rebound and can finish nicely around the rim. He can do a lot defending the 4/5 positions, but also can guard some 3 position players.

What have been the biggest differences between Emir Mutapcic and new coach Sebastian Machowski?

The differences are like night and day. Mutaptic was more a coach that was always yelling and in a players face. I loved him very much and will always be grateful that he brought me to Germany. Sebastian is a players coach. He is more loose, lets the players go and gives a player more freedom. He also works more on technical things. He has an American mentality, because he has been around many American players He understands Americans. I actually played against him before some years ago.

What style of basketball can we expect from The New York Phantoms Braunschweig this season?

We will score a lot this season. We just have to combine offense with defense. Our defense is coming along. It always takes longer to get defense going than it does offense. I think with Schaffartzik on the floor, that will give us an added strength on defense. If we can combine a good offense and defense, then I think that we will be tough every night.

The team will have no problems to score this season. You showed in the 2007-2008 season averaging 13.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.7apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 28.3%, FT: 75.4% that you can score. However might we see you having a different kind of role. With so many adepts corers and you also being known as an assist man, could we see you being more of a creater this season?

My main focus is going into games being aggressive. I play basketball off instincts. I don’t go into games looking just to score or get assists. I go in to help the team at that moment by leading the team to score. I have a lot of freedom this season with Sebastian as coach. Two years ago, I didn´t have as much freedom and wasn´t feeling comfortable, but that grew as the season progressed. I feel very comfortable this season and am looking to have better seasons than two seasons ago and last season in France.

You had a great season in 2006-2007 with Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan in Isarel playing 27 games and averaging 15.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 46.3%, FT: 81.5%. Were you surprised that you didn´t get more interest from ULEB Cup or Euroleague teams?

I wasn´t too surprised that I didn’t get to play in the cup for a team. I really wanted to play for a team that was in cup play so I could travel and see other parts of Europe. There are so many good players in Europe and our team wasn´t really that successful. I do know that if I get a chance again to play for a cup team then I wont disappoint. I will be the first guy at practice and last to go. I hope I get a chance to play cup someday.

What kind of experience was it playing in Isarel? What remains unforgettable in your one year there?

It was really comfortable living and playing in Israel. I was at the beach every day and the weather was great. Basketball was more up and down. There were many great players in Israel. The difference to Germany was that in Germany there are many guys that aren´t used to playing in Europe or have guys that aren´t normal position two or three players. In Israel, guys can flat out play. You had to come ready to play every night. There were no sloppy games. Sometimes you would score 20 points, but you also might get 20 points from your defender that was guarding you. It was a tough league to play in.

What is your nicest memory on and off the court at Seton Hall?

My best memory are the friends I made there. My best memory on the court was when we reached the NCAA tournament beating Arizona and Channing Frye. We ended up losing to Duke that had guys like Sheldon Williams, JJ Rednick and Daniel Ewing. The media attention was great and having 1,500 people at practice was nice as well.

You like soccer. Do you follow the German Bundesliga and do you ever go to games and do you have a favorite team?

Yes I follow soccer. I went to a game at Stuttgart as they played Cottbus two seasons ago and I also saw Wolfsburg vs Cottbus. My favourite team is Chelsea. I have been at Stafford Bridge. I have hung out with Arthur Boka from Stuttgart and Florent Malouda from Chelsea. I love the strikers form Wolfsburg Graffite and Dzeko. I like to follow Wolfsburg watched the game where they beat CSKA Moscow 3-1. One of them scored three goals. I also follow the Spanish and Italian leagues.

What is the most craziest shot that you have ever taken in a game or practice that went in?

I remember making a game winning shot against Oldenburg two seasons ago as well as making a last second shot with Seton Hall against Villannova. I don’t really have any trick shots. Last season at Strassburg during practice I was at the base line got pushed away and took a shot from behind the back board and it went in

Who was the best player that you ever played against?

I have played against so many great players. I played against Carmelo Anthony. The toughest guy that I ever had to guard was Ben Gordon. He could do it all. He was explosive, could shoot, pass and dribble very well

What was the last DVD that you saw?

I don’t watch many DVD´s, but the funniest movie that I ever saw was “Hang Over. Mike Epps was in it as well as the boxer Mike Tyson. This is a movie you got to see!

Thanks John for the chat! Good luck this season!