Robert Allen (206-F-2000, college: N.Texas, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) is a 25 year old 206cm forward from Orlando, Florida playing his second professional season and first with Reale Mutua Basket Torino (Italy-Serie A2). Last season he played his rookie season with Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart (Austria-BSL) averaging (21.3), RPG-1 (11.2), 2.1apg, SPG-5 (1.7), FGP: 55.0%, 3PT-2 (41.6%), FT: 72.2%. He began his basketball career at Edgewater high school and then played 2 seasons at Samford University (NCAA) averaging 9.9ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 27.7%, FT: 65.5% and 14.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 65.0%. He then played 3 seasons at the The University of Mississippi (NCAA) and then latched on a season at the University of North Texas (NCAA) averaging 7.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.9%, FT: 66.3%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Robert for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season with Reale Mutua Basket Torino (Italy-Serie A2) and your second overseas. What kind of an experience has Italy been for you?
Italy has been an amazing experience so far. The city as well as Italy as a whole is such a beautiful place. My team has been more than welcoming since my arrival. There are always things that you have to adjust to when you are an American coming into a new country and a player coming from a new team but that is something that comes with life and is very normal. It’s a totally different environment from Oberwart, and it’s truly everything I prayed for. I have been enjoying my stay here so far and have been able to explore the city a little

How blessed are you to be living in a city like Torino. Is a big culture shock to Orlando where you come from?
I am more than blessed for the opportunity to live in Torino. God has placed me in a city that has so much history behind it as well as its city like but not too crowded in a sense. There are a number of things that are different between Orlando and Torino but nothing that is a true culture shock. Mostly because Europe as a whole is different from Orlando. If I had to pick anything I would say their rules and roads when it comes to driving a car has been a little difficult but I am getting the hang of it.

You had a great rookie season in Austria and now are playing in one if not the top second league in Europe. How confident are you that your game can translate to the A-2 league?
I am highly confident that my skills will be able to translate in this highly ranked league. I believe I was placed here by God and If he made this one of my stops on this journey then I am meant to be here. I work hard, I love learning the game and I push myself to the max and that helps me to keep elevating my game. Lastly, I play with fire in me and a drive like no other and I think that separates me from others.

Your teammates with skilled American Macio Teague. What has it been like being his teammate? Could you 2 guys be that 1-2 punch that will carry the team to success?

Macio is a great player and an even better teammate, it has been great playing with someone who works as hard or even harder than me. On the court we need everyone in order to do big things in this league, that’s why basketball is a team sport. I can say that our present will be impactful to our team’s success.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 206cm forward. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
I do not really watch the NBA so I do not have a comparison for you.

You’re a guy that can fill the stat sheet well. Have you always had that versatility in you or was that developed at the many NCAA schools that you played at?

I think it was always in me but it took me time to truly embrace it. There are often times coaches will put you in a box and only pull your strongest ability out of you that will help the team win. Throughout my college career that was the case but it was a blessing in disguise. Everyone wants to score the ball but it showed me there are other important things that impact winning other than putting the ball in the basket. It allowed me to strengthen my abilities in those categories. Which now has led to be me being like you said a person who can fill a stat sheet

You shot a lot of three’s at Samford, but then little at Ole Miss and N Texas and then a lot in Austria again. Was it tough not shooting many three’s for some years and then doing it again last season? How would you describe the development of your outside shot?

It was a hard transition for me. Going from a coach who wanted me to shoot at Samford to coaches who did not want me to shoot at Ole Miss and north Texas. It can be a tough mental battle when you know you can do something on the court but you’re being held back by your coach. Most coaches would label it as the way they created their teams. Therefore, they had players who were better three point shooters than me, which was true. At the time it wasn’t my strongest ability but it could be done. I let that motivate me honestly to keep working everyday on my own time. Just because I was not using my shot at the time, I knew it was a skill I could add to my game to make me a better player. Before I left for Austria a Vet pro player told me ‘ this is your chance to reinvent yourself, they don’t care what you did in college, that is what got you there. Go out there and show them what you want to be known for’. I took those words and ran with it, it was my chance to break out of the box. I kept working on my shot and different aspects of my game on my own time and when it was my time to shine. I didn’t hold back

Talk a little about the development of your defensive game. How would you describe your game now and what kind of a defender do you still want to become?

Defense was different from offense for me. It was something that came to me naturally. Being able to read the plays and understand how to defend the basket was naturally easier for me to understand. Un-like offense, I had to work day and night to get where I am now. I know that I am a good defender but there is always room for improvement. I want to become an ELITE defender, one who can do any coverage no matter the team or level of competition. A player who can defend all positions making more of a valuable and versatile player

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?

I work on all parts of my game because I want to become an all around player, that is what is going to allow me to stand out and continue to elevate in my career. If I had to pick a few, it would be finishing around the basket. My wide post game and my shot 2s and 3s. As well as reading the court better on defense.

Last season you played your rookie season with the Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart (Austria-BSL) averaging (21.3), RPG-1 (11.2), 2.1apg, SPG-5 (1.7), FGP: 55.0%, 3PT-2 (41.6%), FT: 72.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

I don’t know if I understand your question exactly but i will answer it to the best of my ability.
I do not think there was ever just a wake up call when I was a rookie that was like wow I’m far from home. When I got on that plane and left America I knew what I was coming to Austria to do. I understood and accepted all the sacrifices that came with the Job. My goals were already set and the fight began on the first day of practice. Now did I know I was going to play as well as I did NO but everyday I woke up I prayed to God for strength in order to keep chasing my vision he places on my heart.

You won the double in Austria and beat BBC Nord in the final. What was so special about this team last season?

I think we were just all focused on the same goal and that is what made us different from everyone else. No matter what was going on we all knew we wanted to win the championship. That was going to be the only way the season ended. It was a long season for sure and we did not want to waste any time at all. Therefore we all knew that in order to get as much rest and end the season the right way we had to win every series 3-0 and that’s what we did.

How special was teammate Quincy Diggs for you? That guy has it seen it all. Was he like a mentor for you?

Quincy is such a cool dude man, his presence on that team was a game changer, he is the type of dude that brings a team together and that is exactly what he did for us. When we needed it the most.

You began your NCAA career at Samford (NCAA) in 2018 and played 2 seasons averaging 9.9ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 27.7%, FT: 65.5% and 14.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 65.0%. How valuable were these 2 seasons in your basketball development? How did your game grow there?

Honestly I feel like those seasons were more valuable mentally for me than it was to my game itself. It was like a wake up call , when I actually believed that I could play pro if I took basketball seriously. Those seasons ignited the first step of me truly believing in my basketball abilities. During my time at Samford I was just having fun with life. I was grateful to get out of Orlando and had the opportunity for basketball to be a way for me to get my college paid for.

You had many great games at Samford like scoring 23 points against VMI. What was your fondest moment at Samford?

My fondest moments at Samford weren’t even on the court. It was the time I got to spend with my teammates. Our team was like a family, we did everything together. That was the first time I really experienced something like that. Therefore just being able to play with them and enjoy the entire journey was my fondest moment. From the long bus rides to the hard losses. I enjoyed every second of it.

You then played at the University of Mississippi (NCAA) from 2020-2023 reaching the NIT Sweet 16. How tough was it going from playing a lot at Samford to having a lesser role? What did you learn from this experience?
It was a big challenge for me. I didn’t really understand the overall thought process of basketball because before I was just playing for fun and free education. It took me some time to understand everything but I was not going to give up. I found a way to get on the court my first year at Ole Miss and started playing more. My mind set at the time was to make sure I was prepared because my time was going to come and I knew I was going to be ready for it and did. My second year I was understanding it a lot more than my first year at Ole Miss. When I felt like I had finally got the ins and outs of the system I got injured. I tore my acl mcl and post lateral corner. Therefore throughout my years at Ole miss iIwent through a lot but I’m grateful for every step of the way. It made me who I am now. Throughout that journey I learned who Robert Allen really is and who he wants to be in life. I learned the amount of sacrifice it will take to fulfill the dreams I desire. I learned how to listen to my body more. Lastly for me that was the beginning of my rebuilding my relationship with God.

You then finished at the University of North Texas (NCAA) averaging 7.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 55.9%, FT: 66.3%. You reached the NIT Sweet 16. What memories do you have of that run? You scored 13 points against Tulane.

Not much at all for real, I just remember that my college career was coming to an end and I was going to play as hard as I could these last few games

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Moullaye Sissoko

Of course I did lol

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I can’t remember

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Thats a hard question but Josh Sharkey ( samford) Anferene Simons ( Edgewater high school ) Matthew Murrel ( Ole Miss) Tye Fagan ( Ole Miss) Ziggy Reid ( Gunners)

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore (5 best players ever)?

Michael Jordan , Steph ‘Curry, Lebron , Dennis Rodman , Giannis

Who is your GOAT?

Giannis

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I did not see it.

Thanks Robert for the chat.