Four-star guard Dante Allen Talks State Championship Win, Miami’s Recruitment

Class of 2025 guard Dante Allen was vital to Nightrydas Elite’s run to a back-to-back championship at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam last weekend. During this seven-game stretch, Allen averaged 14.9 points per game on 60.3% shooting from the field.

This was Allen’s second championship of 2023, as he also led Riviera Prep (Fla.) to its first-ever state title in March.

“It was great. I think especially since we lost it the year before and kind of coming in with definitely a newer team, a younger team too,” Allen told LifeWallet Sports about winning a state championship. “We had some ups and downs through the season. We had a couple injuries. So I would say that we definitely came together and we really got that bond at the right time that kind of helped us push through to really get through it.”

Allen, who prides himself on being a hard worker who likes defending the opposing team’s best player, averaged 21.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game during his sophomore campaign. High-major programs have taken notice of his stardom.

The window for college coaches to directly contact recruits in the class of 2025 began on June 15, and Allen mentioned that coaches from LSU, Miami, Central Florida, Michigan and Arkansas are among those who have stayed in contact with him.

The Hurricanes were the first program to offer Allen, who was just a freshman at the time.

“A couple different coaches … came to our school, and I think they were looking at some of our older guys at the time, some seniors,” Allen said about how this offer from Miami came about. “And I was just kind of there, just playing my game and I think it impressed them enough that they did offer me that year.”

Allen sees some similarities between Miami’s system and the one he runs at Riviera Prep.

“[Miami has] this system and they run through it. The one thing I also kind of like sometimes that we also have at my school team here – they have their actions, they have their sets if they ever need them … and then also sometimes they’re also kind of free to play. They’re not robots all the time. They have good players there that can create for themselves, create for their teammates. That is something that I do like to watch and something I’ve noticed.”

There are multiple thing that stand out to Allen about Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga.

“One thing I definitely notice about [Larrañaga] is that he thinks really highly of his players, and he definitely recruits them for a reason. He wants certain guys at his schools. He has only great things to say about them, even if it’s like the smallest of things, he really does enjoy his players,” Allen said. “I think also another thing that’s a great thing for a coach – it seems simple – but he also really loves to coach. He loves being out there. He loves, even if it’s just him talking, he loves to coach.”

Miami has also been recruiting some of Allen’s teammates on Nightrydas Elite, including Cameron and Cayden Boozer and Alexander Lloyd.

Check out LifeWalletSports.com to get connected with all of our athletes and partnered brands.