Dontaie Allen (Vicky Graff Photo)
Social media is something that John Calipari encourages his players to avoid. He often talks about the “poison” that can come from social media along with the distractions it can create. After Kentucky’s win at Vanderbilt Wednesday night, Kentucky freshman Dontaie Allen’s uncle — Bruce Allen Sr. — posted on a UK Facebook Group that “I hope my nephew decides to transfer.”
Dontaie Allen played only three minutes in the first half of the win and did not take a shot or have an assist, rebound, steal, or turnover. The former Kentucky Mr. Basketball has become a huge fan favorite and even though UK won, many fans wondered why he did not play more even though Jacob Toppin had perhaps his best game with 16 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Bruce Allen’s post generated a lot of buzz — or at least it did until Dontaie Allen’s grandmother, Debbie Maffett Allen, set the record straight.
“Call up the local “Fact Checkers”, call your mom, dad, aunts, uncles, whoever you Gotta call …. THIS IS FALSE INFORMATION! NO ONE KNOWS THIS GUY! Please spread the word that this guy is just bored and wants to start drama,” Debbie Maffett Allen posted on Facebook.
“When it interferes with Dontaie’s career, that’s where I draw the line! This is making our family look bad, and that’s not us. We are behind Dontaie/UK all the way. He will get through this year and then on to the next.
“This Coward is not in our family tree!!!!”
No one close to Allen that I know has even hinted at him transferring even though I am sure he would like to be playing more. But remember he always wanted to be at Kentucky and he’s confident in his ability. He’s learning this year and figures to be better next year.
Could he still transfer? Maybe because anything could happen. But if he did it would surprise me because as his grandmother noted, “We are behind Dontaie/UK all the way.”
