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CLEVELAND — Social media was buzzing after Alabama basketball learned it has the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year coming to Tuscaloosa.
Alabama's current roster already has a Gatorade POTY in freshman Labaron Philon, who won the award for his junior season at Baker High School in Mobile in 2023. On Thursday, the Crimson Tide picked up another in UA commit Amari Allen.
The Ashwaubenon High senior earned the honor for the state of Wisconsin, and all of his folks back home are excited to see where life about 14 hours down south takes him. Especially his grandfather, Tom Servais.
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Allen, a 6-foot-7 forward, averaged over 34 points per game shooting over 57% from the floor while putting up about 12 rebounds per game. He dropped a career-high 50 points against Green Bay Preble on Jan. 24.
Before coming home to Ashwaubenon to be closer to family, Allen's recruitment boomed as a student at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, but his basketball journey first began when he was a child, playing pick-up in the driveway with his grandpa.
[IMG alt="Ashwaubenon High School's Amari Allen (3) blocks a shot by De Pere High School's Pryce Gregoire (33) on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at Ashwaubenon High School in Ashwaubenon, Wis. De Pere won the game, 70-68, on a Roan Demovsky layup with 1.6 seconds remaining in regulation.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-tuscaloosa-news/0296d80fcaae9971ca61ec635bbfa5d8[/IMG]
Allen doesn't think that Servais has missed a game, often seeing him in the stands hours before tipoff.
"I tell myself before every game to enjoy it, but it’s hard because I want him to do well," Servais told Wisconsin's NBC 26. "I'm proud of him, but there's so much pressure on him. It's quite the atmosphere."
Servais said the thought of Allen in Title Town makes him pinch himself, and he's going to try to keep his perfect attendance record.
"You always think your kid is going to be great, and Amari and I have been together since he was little. I’ve been in his life, coaching him, practicing with him," Servais said. "It’s just been a special time for me watching him develop."
Allen's accolades aren't the only ones rolling in for Alabama's 2026 class of recruits. Future teammate and fellow 2026 signee London Jemison earned All-American honors after leading St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Connecticut) to the National Prep Championship.
No. 2 seed Alabama (25-8) starts its 25th NCAA Tournament run Friday against No. 15-seed Robert Morris.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball getting family man in 2025 Gatorade POTY Amari Allen
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Alabama's current roster already has a Gatorade POTY in freshman Labaron Philon, who won the award for his junior season at Baker High School in Mobile in 2023. On Thursday, the Crimson Tide picked up another in UA commit Amari Allen.
The Ashwaubenon High senior earned the honor for the state of Wisconsin, and all of his folks back home are excited to see where life about 14 hours down south takes him. Especially his grandfather, Tom Servais.
GRANT NELSON INJURY UPDATE: Will Alabama basketball star play vs Robert Morris?
MEET MARK SEARS, CADET: Alabama basketball star's adventures in military school
Alabama basketball getting family man in 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year Amari Allen
Allen, a 6-foot-7 forward, averaged over 34 points per game shooting over 57% from the floor while putting up about 12 rebounds per game. He dropped a career-high 50 points against Green Bay Preble on Jan. 24.
Before coming home to Ashwaubenon to be closer to family, Allen's recruitment boomed as a student at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, but his basketball journey first began when he was a child, playing pick-up in the driveway with his grandpa.
[IMG alt="Ashwaubenon High School's Amari Allen (3) blocks a shot by De Pere High School's Pryce Gregoire (33) on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at Ashwaubenon High School in Ashwaubenon, Wis. De Pere won the game, 70-68, on a Roan Demovsky layup with 1.6 seconds remaining in regulation.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-tuscaloosa-news/0296d80fcaae9971ca61ec635bbfa5d8[/IMG]
Allen doesn't think that Servais has missed a game, often seeing him in the stands hours before tipoff.
"I tell myself before every game to enjoy it, but it’s hard because I want him to do well," Servais told Wisconsin's NBC 26. "I'm proud of him, but there's so much pressure on him. It's quite the atmosphere."
Servais said the thought of Allen in Title Town makes him pinch himself, and he's going to try to keep his perfect attendance record.
"You always think your kid is going to be great, and Amari and I have been together since he was little. I’ve been in his life, coaching him, practicing with him," Servais said. "It’s just been a special time for me watching him develop."
Allen's accolades aren't the only ones rolling in for Alabama's 2026 class of recruits. Future teammate and fellow 2026 signee London Jemison earned All-American honors after leading St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Connecticut) to the National Prep Championship.
No. 2 seed Alabama (25-8) starts its 25th NCAA Tournament run Friday against No. 15-seed Robert Morris.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball getting family man in 2025 Gatorade POTY Amari Allen
Continue reading...
