NC State lands local standout Thomas Allen

NC State landed local standout Thomas Allen following his official visit Friday-through-Sunday.

Allen arrived in time for Friday’s first official practice, and he knew what he was looking for on his third and final official visit. He picked NC State over Nebraska and Saint Louis.

The Raleigh native starred at Garner (N.C.) High, helping the Trojans win the 2015 NCHSAA 4A state title when he was a sophomore. Last season, Allen averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game

He made the move to Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy this season, which is the same prep school that former NC State players T.J. Warren and Kyle Washington attended in their senior years.

Allen visited Nebraska on Sept. 16-18 and Saint Louis on Sept. 23-25. He said in a previous interview that it’s key that his next coach will choose to build around his ability to shoot the basketball.

“I can be a shooter and facilitate at the same time,” said Allen, who also admitted he misses the atmosphere and city of Raleigh.

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Allen is ranked No. 146 overall in the class of 2017 and rated as a three-star prospect. He moved into the Rivals150 after a strong spring and summer playing with Garner Road. The Wolfpack monitored his progress during his junior year and offered him June 10. New NCSU assistant coach Butch Pierre became a strong presence in Allen’s recruitment.

Allen averaged 22.2 points per game in 12 contests for Garner Road on the adidas Gauntlet series. He shot 50.4 percent from the field and 40.5 percent on three-pointers (34 of 84).

Allen followed up by averaging 19.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, and shot 44 percent from the field and 42.9 percent on three-pointers, in leading Garner Road to a runner-up finish at the adidas Summer Championships on July 20-24 in Las Vegas.

The early basketball signing period is Nov. 9-16.