Louisville basketball recruiting: Cards offer top 50 wing Quincy Allen

Allen would be instant impact player for Louisville basketball.

It’s been a rather slow stretch on the recruiting trail for Louisville basketball and head coach Chris Mack.

After a 2020 recruiting cycle that saw multiple top-name recruits appear close to signing with the Cards before cooling and then committing elsewhere, the Cards wound up without any players who project to make a difference right away. Louisville did have JUCO transfer Jay Scrubb in the mix, but the Louisville Trinity product opted to keep his name in the NBA draft and hire an agent.

Additionally, Louisville just received its most recent Notice of Allegations from the NCAA and given previous incidents that led to a probationary period and another level one violation that could result in further serious punishment, the recruiting outlook is bleak for the 2021 class.

Still, Louisville has been mentioned in association with a few big names in this class, and perhaps none bigger than its latest offer.

Quincy Allen, a 6’7,” 180-pound junior from Washington D.C., is one of the lesser talked about names in the upcoming class, but could wind up being a household name by the end of the recruiting cycle.

Allen turned a lot of heads this winter, but an injury and then the quarantine break have left a lot of question marks. As Allen has spent time away from the court, other players in the class saw their stocks soar. Still, Allen was rated as high as No. 19 by 247Sports in August and still possesses that type of game.

Heres’s what Jerry Meyer of 247Sports said when he evaluated Allen in January:

"Great length for a scoring wing. A smooth athlete with body control and a finesse game. Not a powerful, explosive athlete. Tremendous shooter, especially off the catch from deep. Can score off dribble in midrange. Adequate handler and does see the court as a passer. Holds his own on the boards. Defense needs improvement."

Meyer’s comparison of Allen to former Pitt Panther and Carolina Tar Heel Cam Johnson feels almost perfect.

Allen is an offensive-minded player in a similar mold to current Cardinal Samuell Williamson. He looks effortless handling the ball, even as a long, lanky forward, and is creative in the mid-range and getting to the bucket.

What Louisville basketball fans will love to hear is that he is a great shooter, and he rises up well and gets his shot off quickly.

There’s certainly work to be done on Allen’s game, but that hasn’t stopped plenty of big names from showing interest. So far, NC State, Florida, Syracuse, and Marquette are among a host of suitors, and more are certainly expected to follow.

When Allen gets back into the full swing of things, he may very well rise up the recruiting rankings again. With Louisville desperately in need of a game-changing recruit, it’s great to see the Cards offered before any of the traditional blue bloods that are sure to follow.