West Virginia’s top freshman this season is Teddy Allen. The well-traveled standout has been playing a lot and thriving off the bench for the Mountaineers.
In a big win against Coppin State, Allen scored a career-high 24 points. His previous high this season was 16 against NJIT. But in between the games (not including the exhibition against Wheeling Jesuit) Allen did not appear on the score sheet.
The WVU basketball team earned wins against Pitt and Virginia in the games Allen did not score. Now, those are a big step up from playing the likes of Coppin State. But, as Allen grows in the West Virginia system, he will be leading the charge against the best teams in the country.
It’s no secret that Jevon Carter is the leader of this year’s West Virginia team. But Carter may not have a better student that Allen. Plus, Allen is learning from the best so one day he might be the WVU basketball team’s leading scorer.
Allen is obviously a hard worker which is why head coach Bob Huggins has this strong trust in him. Allen is offensive-minded, which is what this team needs. But Allen also have to give it his all on defense, which is what Huggins wants to see all of his players do each game.
The sure sign that Huggins has trust in Allen is what he said following the Coppin State game. WVUsports.com recorded Huggins praising Allen, while giving a warning to some of his other players, most namely Lamont West who didn’t play against Coppin State.
"“If I was (West) and I saw a guy coming off the bench who plays my spot and got 24, I’d heal up real fast,” Huggins said."
The competition that is breeding among the West Virginia basketball is great because everybody wants their piece of the pie. Huggins sure knows how to get the best of his players and he can make the fringe players even better if they believe. Teddy Allen is showing growing signs with each minute he appears on the court.
In a few years, Allen will be the top scorer for the West Virginia basketball team. He is already showing signs of greatness and with some more experience against good teams, he will come into his own as player of the year candidate.
Next: Exhibition game was good lesson for WVU basketball
This season, not only is Allen going to make it hard for West, he may make it hard for Esa Ahmad once he returns from suspension.