Miami basketball lands another big-time transfer in Marcus Allen

Marcus Allen, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound wing from Missouri, has committed to the University of Miami after entering the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month. Allen, a former four-star recruit, played his freshman season at the University of Missouri. He is part of a ton of additions under new head coach Jai Lucas, who has emphasized retaining top in-state talent.

During the 2024–25 season, Allen appeared in 26 games for Missouri, averaging 2.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 9.2 minutes per game. He demonstrated efficiency with a 43.9% field goal percentage and an impressive 88.2% free-throw percentage. While his three-point attempts were limited, he converted 40% of them.

Allen's return to Miami is a homecoming; he starred at Miami Norland High School, leading the team to a Florida state championship in 2024. He was ranked as the No. 74 overall recruit and the No. 25 small forward in the 2024 class by the On3 Industry Rankings. ​

​The University of Miami appointed Charlton "C.Y." Young as associate head coach last week. A Miami native, Young brings nearly 30 years of Division I coaching experience, including recent tenure as associate head coach at the University of Missouri, where he coached Allen during the 2024–25 season. Young's extensive background encompasses nine NCAA Tournament appearances and the development of 15 NBA Draft picks. His return to his hometown was projected to help the Hurricanes recruiting efforts and this is the first example of it.

Allen's decision to transfer aligns with Coach Lucas's strategy to build a roster with strong local ties. Lucas stated, "Florida has the best talent coming out these next couple of years, so it’s building those relationships, getting them to understand the value of staying home, coming to Miami." With Allen's addition, the Hurricanes are trending towards one of the top classes in all of college basketball.