In a class characterized by heartbreak, Adam Allen stands out from the rest.
While the seniors have dealt with their share of difficult losses on the court, the redshirt-junior forward has endured a trio of surgeries in an attempt to fix his left knee, which has sidelined him since the 2007-08 season.
Unfortunately for Allen, each attempt has yielded little more than a fleeting hope.
With graduation just two months away, Allen is opting to participate in tonight’s Senior Day festivities, essentially giving up on ever making a return to action.
Although his contributions on the court never neared what he hoped they could, Allen never felt as if he wasn’t appreciated by his teammates.
“I’m still a huge part of this team,” Allen said. “It is kind of bittersweet that I can’t play, but still, I’m happy that we’re doing so well and just glad to be a part of this.”
Because of an issue with the cartilage surrounding his kneecap, Allen can’t work out for more than a short period without being sore for the next three or four days.
The condition is so severe that the forward projects severe arthritis by age 35, unless a potential fourth surgery can alleviate the problem.
Allen admits his misfortune has been difficult to handle, but he had no choice but to “take it in stride.”
“I wasn’t able to get back and get healthy, and I can’t do anything about it,” Allen said. “I got my feet wet, and I got a free education out of it, and I got a chance to be a part of the Florida Gators basketball team. That still says a lot.”
Allen has already started to focus on life after sports, doing radio broadcasts for junior college games and applying for a summer internship with ESPN.
But before he begins the next phase of his life, he will still have one last night in the O’Connell Center.
“It means a lot to me,” Allen said. “My whole family is coming to town, and I don’t know if I’m going to tear up or not during the game, but it’s going to be a good experience.”
ALABAMA DEFENSE PRESENTS CHALLENGES: Under the leadership of Anthony Grant, who served as an assistant on Billy Donovan’s staff from 1994-2006, the Crimson Tide has established itself as one of the nation’s best defenses.
Alabama currently leads the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense (58.2 points per game), opposing shooting percentage (37.3 percent) and steals (9.6 per game).
“They’re very tough,” senior forward Chandler Parsons said. “They’re a physical team. They remind me of a Big East team.”
Alabama is led by junior forward JaMychal Green, who paces the team with 16.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per contest.
Green and senior center Vernon Macklin played together at the 2010 Amare Stoudemire Skills Academy, and the two still occasionally speak to each other.
“He’s a great player,” Macklin said. “He can shoot, he can drive to the hole and he’s physical, so they have a great front line up there.”
