ACC heavy list for Allen

A year ago, Jeff Allen was primarily an undersized power forward at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound prospect has now extended his game to the perimeter with an improved jumper. He's still a pogo stick athlete and that's why a number of ACC schools are hoping to get in good with the four-star recruit from the class of 2006.

Allen, the No. 96 ranked player in the class of 2006, is one of the several young and talented prospects for coach Mike Jones at the famed DeMatha school just outside of Washington D.C. Allen displayed a much improved perimeter game when he was in Houston, Texas for the Academy National Invitational. And that is part of his plan to improve as a college prospect.

"I'm thinking right now that I'm playing the four for my high school but in college I feel like I can play the two or the three so I'm improving my ball-handling and my shooting," Allen said. "I'm real comfortable out there.

"I learned how to play outside during the summer time with my AAU and then playing with Nigel (Munson) and Austin (Freeman), they help me learn how to move without the ball and work as a perimeter game."

Since playing at the Nike Hoop Jamboree over the summer, Allen has been a guy on the national radar. Colleges have gotten word and made an early push for his services. Allen gave us an early list of Virginia Tech, Maryland, Syracuse, Clemson, NC State and Wake Forest.

The four-star prospect has already unofficially visited Virginia Tech with teammate Nigel Munson.