Samford forward Robert Allen to transfer to Ole Miss

Ole Miss and Kermit Davis have been extremely active on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal this off season. The Rebels have already added forward Dimencio Vaughn to the roster after losing Carlos Curry and Franco Miller.

And now they have added another talented wing player in Samford’s Robert Allen.

The Orlando, Fla. native played in 65 games in two years for the Bulldogs, starting in 63 of those and playing over 30 minutes a game. He averaged just under double figures in his freshman season but became a focal point of the offense this past year.

Allen averaged 14.1 points and seven rebounds per game in the 2019-2020 season, chipping in 1.3 blocks and shooting 43 percent from the field as well. He scored 15 or more points 16 times a year ago, including five times when he filled it up for 20 or more.

The 6’8, 200-pounder chose Ole Miss over Illinois State, Mississippi State and New Mexico, per Rivals’ Corey Evans.

“It is a good fit. They have a great academic program and a wonderful coaching staff that is a new place that feels like home to me,” Allen told Rivals.com. “I think that Kermit (Davis) is an amazing coach. He has a phenomenal personality and I just love how they play, get after it and how they all do it together. I felt like it was a family and it was like home.”

Despite being lightly recruited out of Edgewater High School, Allen is an intriguing prospect that brings toughness and versatility to the Rebs’ front court. He can attack with his back to the basket, facing a defender, or in transition. If he can get a waiver to play immediately, he brings much needed depth to the power forward position that will allow Kermit Davis and staff to utilize KJ Buffen and Blake Hinson and elsewhere.

Allen and the aforementioned Rider graduate transfer Vaughn will take some pressure off Khadim Sy down low when it comes to scoring, rebounding the basketball, and defending the rim.