Update: Kadeem Allen to redshirt at Arizona

Nov. 16 TUCSON, AZ (WWAY) — Even though he’s healthy and ready to play Wilmington’s Kadeem Allen will redshirt at the University of Arizona for the 2014-15 men’s basketball season. Head coach Sean Miler confirmed on Friday that Allen will sit out the current season. Allen will have two years of playing eligibility starting a year from now. Below is the story we originally posted about Kadeem Allen on November 10.

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Nov. 10 TUCSON, AZ(WWAY) — Wilmington’s Kadeem Allen was ready to play in the national spotlight. It appears he’s going to have to wait another twelve months. The former Laney Buccaner and New Hanover graduate didn’t play in Arizona’s exhibition basketball game on Sunday against Cal Poly Pomona. Every Wildcat played except Kadeem Allen. Arizona head coach Sean Miller clarified the issue after the game. “We’re debating right now on potentially redshirting him”, Miller explained. “I know we could have played him and still redshirted him, but we’re working towards that. We don’t have to make that decision until Friday. But for the reasons that we decide to redshirt him, he can’t play in any regular season games.”

As far as his eligibility Kadeem Allen is a junior. If he is redshirted this season he would still have two years of eligibility to play basketball for Arizona. “I think for Kadeem’s total career, and what we have on this year’s team, I think that if we didn’t redshirt him, we may not be putting him in the best position to be a really good player at Arizona, to leave with his degree and some things that could be very meaningful for him. It’s not as if he’s lagging behind. It’s just that you can only play so many players and looking at the team that we have, one of these guys will get an extra year that they would have never gotten if we didn’t choose to do this.”

Last season at Hutchinson Community College Kadeem Allen averaged 25.9 points per game. He was named the JUCO played of the year. Kadeem Allen played varsity basketball under Fred Lynch at Laney High School through his junior year. Allen transferred to New Hanover High for his senior season. Allen and the Wildcats won the 4-A state basketball title in 2012.

Click the play video icon to see Arizona head coach Sean Miller explain the possible redshirt situation involving Kadeem Allen.

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