Four-Star SF Marcus Allen sets commitment date, names top schools

Marcus Allen, one of the top uncommitted small forwards in the 2024 class, is in the final stretch of his recruitment.

The 6-foot-6 small forward out of Miami Norland tells On3 he will announce his college decision on August 7th at 7:00 p.m. ET between Arkansas, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio State, and Stanford.

Allen is the No. 46 overall prospect and No. 16 small forward in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 7 player in the state of Florida.

The four-star was able to take official visits to three of his six finalists. Miami, Missouri, and Stanford each hosted him on campus.

Allen talks programs in the mix

In previous interviews with On3, Marcus Allen discussed several programs in his recruitment.

Miami: “My relationship with them continues to grow. They’re still the hometown school, and it’s where I’m from. So now, with me going back to Miami (FL) Norland High, I’m sure it’ll keep growing.”

Missouri: “Coach CY (CY Young) and Coach (Dennis) Gates are two good black men. Their school and their program is very good to me. In his first season, I thought things went really well. They made a run to March Madness, and I’m looking forward to what they do next year with my teammate Trent (Pierce).”

Michigan: “The relationship I have with Coach Juwan (Howard). He’s just a really good dude, really down to earth, a good dude to talk to outside of basketball. You know a Coach Howard team is going to play hard, especially on the defensive end, and that fits how I play too.”

Ohio State: “I have a great relationship with Coach (Jon) Diebler and Coach (Chris) Holtmann. I’m basically talking with them because of how much I like those two. They had Brice (Sensabaugh) and Malaki (Branham) for the last two years, both wings. They’re both mid-range heavy, which I feel like I am too. They like me because I am a two-way player, and I feel like I could fit into that.”

Scouting Report

You walk away from watching Marcus Allen, and you talk about the toughness. He is a strong-framed, long-armed wing prospect who simply enjoys doing the dirty work, the work that most players do not like to do. Allen is a tough defender; he has the quickness to defend the ball and the size and length to switch up a lineup and do some things in the post. He has lockdown-type potential at the highest level on that end. Allen is a good rebounder in his position as well. He finishes well around the basket, especially in straight lines, but will need to tighten his handle and develop some counters off the bounce. Coming out of this summer, he needed to work on the jumper; however, early returns on the season show a confident stroke, off the catch, especially from the corners. There is some work to still be done, but there is no denying the effect Allen has on winning. – On3’s Jamie Shaw