Much has happened in the past five years since the 10,7 time that Derrick Allen achieved on a Frankfurt track as he came one possession from winning his first BBL league title with Frankfurt being denied in Bamberg, playing two seasons for top German team Alba Berlin where he got to know the perks of head coach Luka Pavicevic and why Gordon Herbert is his twin in work ethic and played with the road runner equivalent in basketball point guard Dashaun Wood and then left Germany for the first time in eight years moving over the boarder to Belgium to present his slick ballerina moves and returned back to Germany last season to Bremerhaven where he played for the Eisbaeren which in English is a polar bear something that he would never see back home in Alabama, but could visit in the zoo there. This season Allen who can be called a German basketball country trotter as he also played with BG Karlsruhe and Leverkusen at the start of his career is playing in Braunschweig. Allen was 29 years old when he posted the time of 10,7 seconds in the 100 meter category in preseason and back then I was joking that the Alabama native could be a dark horse Usain Bolt opponent in the 2012 London Olympics. He probably has lost a few tenth of a second on a 100 meter sprint, but when the 203cm forward is off to the races in transition then he can still get up the floor with the best of them even now in 2014. Just how Frankfurt Skyliner legend Pascal Roller perfected the fast break three pointer or Boston Celtic legend Kevin Mchale the fade away jumper, Derrick Allen has perfected his dancing in the zone that resembles a ballerina going work that has made numerous defenders get as dizzy as patrons getting onto the Drop of fear ride at Wonderland Park in Texas. He may not out dance the world famous ballerina dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, but on the basketball court in Germany it has done damage since 10 years. 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 to use those moves more this season”, stressed Allen. The 34 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 opponent on every play wheather it’s a loose ball, rebound or steal. He is always first to the ball”, said ex Maccabii Tel Aviv guard Ricky Hickman. However it isn’t his sprinting in the open court or his ballerina dancing that has kept him active at the age of 34, but his unbelievable relentless work ethic that has kept him on the court and not on the couch on the weekends watching NBA basketball in the States. He didn’t start to work hard when he started getting older, but has been doing it since the start as his dedication and focus to the game of basketball is immaculate as he is the real definition of a professional. Because of his hard work, his stats haven’t suffered with age, but continued to stay consistent which has enabled him to get interest from clubs each off season. Last season with Bremerhaven, he played 34 games: 11.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 48.5%, FT: 69.5%. This season with Braunschweig he comes from the bench backing up American Tim Abromaitis and is averaging 8,0ppg and 3,2rpg and as always has a superb percentage from the field at 55,6%. After being in the top 10 in scoring for many years in the Beko BBL and even being the league scoring champion in 2007 with Leverkusen, Allen doesn’t have to put up 16 and 8 stats each weekend. His experience, work ethic and advice that he can give the kids is more than worth his pay check. He hasn´t slown down as this season he is averaging 10,0ppg and 4,3rpg while shooting 59% from the field. His highlights this season have been scoring in double figures 12 times with two double doubles and a season high 25 points against Oldenburg. It will be interesting to see how much longer he will play, because from the fitness level, he could probably play until he was 50, but after a certain point family becomes the first priority for a player with age. The side kick of Allen who is playing his 11 year in Germany is Immanuel Mcelroy. Mcelroy like Allen gives the club important experience and is a mentor for the young players. Mcelroy like Allen is from the south from Texas, around the same age of 35 only four months older, played a season at Alba Berlin, but has won 5 titles in Germany to 0 with Allen. Mcelroy won 2 cups with Cologne and one league title and won a cup and league title with Alba Berlin. Like Allen, Imac as he is called may be 34, but still belongs to the top defenders in the league and is always good for filling the stat sheets. He is playing his fourth season with Braunschweig and last season played 33 games: 10.9ppg, 3.8rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 56.1%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 77.1%. This season Mcelroy is averaging 7,4ppg, 3,4rpg and 3,1apg. He has scored in double figures eight times and best scoring game was 20 points. Another difference to Mcelroy and Allen is that he started a family when he was already in college and doesn´t seem to slow down with age and kids. Seeing these two guys play together on a team is a gem and should be cherished as long as possible, because one never knows when the ballerina moves and famous Imac smerk wont be on the court anymore.

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