CHICAGO – Jeff Nordgaard likes to say that he once coached one of the best fifth-grade AAU teams in Wisconsin’s history. Heck, maybe even any fifth-grade team, anywhere.
The UW-Green Bay legend – and former Milwaukee Bucks player – used to lead young teams for the Wisconsin Blizzard program. For a couple of years, Nordgaard had a team that included Stevie Clark, a former Oshkosh North standout who is playing at Colgate and boasted some size with Nordgaard’s son Langdon, who plays football at Wisconsin.
Then there were two players who were always the best on the court. One was Kon Knueppel, Nordgaard’s nephew who just narrowly missed being the rookie of the year with the Charlotte Hornets.
The other was Amari Allen, a Green Bay area native who hopes to join Knueppel in the NBA after one season at Alabama.
“(Allen) was the most talented player around in this area for that grade,” Nordgaard said. “In that his ability to handle the ball, attack the basket, those things were very unique for his age.
“And he is the best passer I’ve ever coached. And that’s including Kon. Kon is an elite, elite passer, but Amari is the most natural passer I’ve ever coached.”
Allen played his freshman year at Kaukauna High School, then had a two-year sojourn at prep powerhouse IMG Academy in Florida. He returned to Wisconsin to play his senior season at Ashwaubenon High School. The versatile 6-foot-7 forward was named the Gatorade state player of the year after averaging 34.1 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game.
Allen also played for Milwaukee AAU teams during his high-school years.
“Definitely shaped me as a person,” Allen said about growing up in the Green Bay area at the NBA combine on May 13. “I feel like everyone knows everyone so, you know, you don’t want to get a bad name around the city.
“As a player, not many people come out of Green Bay. So I feel like I spent more time in Milwaukee. Obviously, I claim Green Bay and I’m from Green Bay. But you know, just playing in Milwaukee, I feel like there’s a bunch of great players down there. A bunch of tough players, inner-city kids. So I feel like that’s where I kind of got my grit was from that.”
Amari Allen played for Wisconsin native Nate Oats at Alabama
Allen was recruited to Alabama by another Wisconsin native in head coach Nate Oats.
Allen forced his way onto the court by willing to do anything Oats needed. The freshman frequently won Oats’ “Hard Hat Award” given every game to players who make blue-collar plays that don’t always show up in the box score.
“There was no doubt my mind I was going to come in and play,” Allen said. “I don’t know how much.
“But just to come in and have a big role from the beginning, playing 30 minutes a game as a freshman, I’m on one of the best teams in the country, definitely a blessing.”
Allen declared for the NBA draft after averaging 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He compared his game to another Wisconsin native having success in the league, Jalen Johnson.
“He does kind of everything,” Allen said.
Amari Allen could be NBA first-round pick, but could also return to Alabama
Nordgaard has kept a close watch on Allen since those middle-school days. Nordgaard even caught up with his former player in Chicago when Alabama played Illinois at the United Center.
Nordgaard sees Allen fitting in with any NBA team because of Allen’s adaptability.
“He didn’t have the ball in his hands a lot this last year at Alabama,” Nordgaard said. “They had a couple guards that were pretty ball dominant, but he found his spots.
“I have to assume that those guys on his team loved having him as a teammate because he stood out as someone who would make the extra pass, cut at the right time, find the open man and not force bad shots.”
Allen is seen as a late-first round pick on most mock drafts. He could also return to Alabama for a hefty payday. The deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft is May 27.
“It’s definitely difficult,” Allen said. “I feel like, for me personally, my dream’s the NBA. Even if I can go back to Bama for a year and make more money maybe this year, but my main goal is the NBA.
“Obviously in the long term, the NBA’s contracts are way better. But it’s definitely difficult, you know, turning down some of the money that some colleges throw out.”
Whenever it happens, Allen will soon be in the NBA like his old middle-school teammate Knueppel.
“We have completely different paths, different stories, different come-ups,” Allen said. “Obviously, just playing with him, though, I always knew he was super-good. I mean, I believed in myself even before he made it.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Ashwaubenon standout Amari Allen is close to NBA dream
Reporting by Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
