Texas has won the Timmy Allen sweepstakes.
Utah’s star forward, who entered the transfer portal on March 26 just hours before Craig Smith was hired to replace Larry Krystkowiak, has committed to the Longhorns, he announced via Instagram on Tuesday.
Allen was considered one of the top 10 prospects in the transfer portal following the 2020-21 season before agreeing to play for new coach Chris Beard. He was a first-team All-Pac-12 pick last season, a second-team selection the year prior, and averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
The Mesa, Arizona, native’s commitment to Texas shatters the hopes of Utah fans that Smith could persuade the team’s best player to stay. Smith got two transfer portal entrants — big men Riley Battin and Lahat Thioune — to come back, but Allen’s mind was pretty much made up, it appears.
Allen was also one of Utah’s best defensive players, getting 1.3 steals per game, and started in all 25 games in his third season on the Hill.
Smith, who was Utah State’s coach for three seasons before Utah athletic director Mark Harlan lured him away from USU with a six-year, $12.6 million guaranteed contract, plus bonuses and incentives, met with Allen and all the remaining Utes the morning of March 26.
But Allen was back in his hometown a few days later, a signal that he most likely wasn’t returning.
Utah’s second-leading scorer, Alfonso Plummer, is also in the portal, along with freshman sensation Ian Martinez. Plummer is reportedly considering BYU, Illinois, VCU, Saint Mary’s, Georgia, Kansas and Florida, while also testing the NBA draft waters.
Plummer, Allen and Jordan Kellier, who entered the portal before Krystkowiak was fired, have been removed from Utah’s roster on its website.
Rumors are flying on fan message boards and the like that Finnish star Mikael Jantunen is also leaving, but the Deseret News has not been able to confirm that development and Jantunen remains on the official roster.
Utah recently signed Cincinnati transfer Gabe Madsen and has a commitment from UNLV transfer guard David Jenkins Jr., according to multiple outlets.
Smith has announced the hirings of DeMarlo Slocum and Eric Peterson as his assistants and Curran Walsh as his director of basketball operations. He has yet to name a third assistant.