Arizona Basketball: Getting to know Arizona Target Timmy Allen

Arizona target class of 2018 Timmy Allen’s AAU basketball Compton Magic team took part in the Pangos Premier Spring Warm-up 2016, and took home the trophy.

Timmy Allen (6’6 guard, Class of 2018) hails from Mesa, Arizona and attends Desert Ridge High School. He also plays small forward for the Compton Magic AAU Elite team alongside UCLA class of 2017 commits Jalen Hill and Jaylen Hands among other notables.

You may wonder, ‘why did ZonaZealots use Gabe York as the feature photo for this post? Well, it’s easy, York played for Coach Etop Udu Ema and the Compton Magic. Coach Ema came to a number of Arizona Wildcats games last season, including the DIRECTV Wooden Classic tournament on Thanksgiving weekend.

Everywhere you find Timmy’s positions listed on the Internet it says small forward, well we have all just been corrected, he is a guard. John Gershon of Scout.com gave his perspective on Allen in an article posted late last year: 

More from Zona Zealots

• Arizona Football begins Conference play against Stanford
• Arizona Football starts slow but runs away from UTEP
• How Wildcats Fans Can Claim $200 INSTANT Bonus at BetMGM Betting $10 Right Now
• Costly Mistakes doom Arizona Football in loss to Mississippi State
• Arizona Basketball likely to schedule Florida Atlantic for 2023

“Allen’s long arms, versatility and instincts make him a player with a high upside, especially if he keeps growing; he says he’s grown four inches over the last year.” – Gershon.

Allen has offers from Creighton, Nebraska, Portland State, New Mexico State, TCU, and yes Arizona State which is in his own back yard. Arizona’s head coach Sean Miller and his staff are talking to and scouting Allen as well as UCLA and others. If you were watching Timmy play in the Pangos Premier Spring Warmup in Westminster, California along with TWCSportsnet Lakers commentator coach Dave Miller, you would hope he gets one.

We were fortunate to interview Timmy a bit after the second day of the Compton Magic Elite’s tournament games along with former Arizona recruit Jalen Hill in this Guillermo Angeles produced short with Zona Zealots editor Shereen Rayan and In The Front Row co-host.

A couple of things we noticed about Timmy Allen is that he is direct and to the point. He also has a contagious smile, and his coaches and teammates adore him, it’s obvious in the way they support him.

More from Basketball Recruiting

• Arizona Basketball offers Alijah Arenas, son of Wildcat Legend Gilbert
• UNC’s Caleb Love announces transfer to Arizona Basketball
• Spanish PG Conrad Martinez commits to Arizona Basketball
• Arizona Basketball adds San Diego State Transfer Keshad Johnson
• Euro Forwrd Paulius Murauskas commits to Arizona Basketball

As you can see from the Elite teams style of play, they are a cohesive group with tons of talent who wipe the floor with most of their opponents. One thing is for sure, if you do get to see them play live, be prepared to be amazed and vocal, the dunks, fast breaks, quick footwork are out of this world.

We felt we didn’t get to know Allen enough after catching a full day of this team, and we were lucky to catch up with him later to ask him more questions for our Wildcats fans.

Who inspires you?

My mom inspires me always to be better in anything that I do.

Who do you pattern your game after?

I try to model my game after Anthony Davis; he kinda does it all, great player at every aspect.

Do you have a motto you live by?

I don’t really have a motto; I just live day by day to see hopefully more and better days.

Are there a few schools you really want an offer from?

Umm at this point I’m not really desiring an offer from any specific school, I’m open to anybody.

Do you want to stay on the west coast?

Same with the location, I’m open to anything.

Would you consider a school if it was a Nike school?

The brand isn’t very important to me when making a decision.

(Editors note: Although the Compton Magic are an Addidas backed AAU team, everyone I have talked too including Coach Ema, parents and the players all agree, it’s not about the shoes when deciding on a college, there are more important aspects to consider. And they all point out that Gabe York is a Compton Magic alumni!)

What is your favorite basketball play?

I like out of bounds alley oop plays.

Any brothers or sisters? Do they play sports too?

I have two brothers who both play basketball.

How do you do with living in the heat?

The heat is kinda tragic but I deal with it lol.

What about your Compton magic team do you enjoy the most?

I love the chemistry we have as teammates.

Do you enjoy taking selfies with people?

I’m good with selfies, whatever the other people in them are doing that is what I would do.

How would you describe your style of play?

I’m more of a ‘do it all’ type of player.

What are you working on skill wise in the next year?

I’m still putting lots of work into my left hand.

Tell me something about yourself people may not know about?

I listen to music all day long and enjoy almost all types of music. (Especially Future and Young Thug)

Next: Former Arizona Wildcats Nick Johnson comes to LA for the Western Conference playoffs

You can find Timmy on Twitter at @TimmyBuckets35. Thank you, Timmy for sharing yourself with Wildcats fans, please let us know first if you get an offer from the University of Arizona, it’s only hot a few months out of the year in Tucson, the rest is very pleasant or even cold, just saying.