There are now fewer than three weeks until the start of the 2025-26 men's college basketball season, and we are getting into the heart of our player profile series. Next up on the docket, we have newcomer and Kansas City native Corbin Allen.
The local product had a route to Lawrence that is eerily similar to that of recent Jayhawk legend and national champion Ochai Agbaji. Agbaji and Allen both attended Oak Park High School in Kansas City. They both are the same height (6-foot-5) and were ranked as three-star recruits coming out of high school. Another similarity is that every member of both the Agbaji and the Allen family was a college athlete.
Both were recipients of the DiRenna Award, which is given to the top high school basketball player in the greater Kansas City area. Allen won it twice (2023-24 & 2024-25), while Agbaji won it once (2017-18). Other notable Kansas alumni to win the award include Bruce Sloan (1964-65), Calvin Thompson (1981-82), Greg Gurley (1990-91), Wayne Simien (2000-01), Connor Teahan (2006-07), Christian Braun (2018-19), and Zeke Mayo (2020-21).
Although Agbaji is likely the more talented scorer, Allen arguably had the better high school career. Both have a decorated list of accolades, but Allen accomplished something Agbaji never experienced in his high school career: a state championship. Last season, Allen led Oak Park to a 31-1 record and helped them capture the Missouri Class 6 state title. En route to the championship, Allen averaged 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Notably, when Allen broke Agbaji's all-time scoring record at Oak Park High School, Agbaji was in attendance.
When Bill Self was asked what Corbin Allen brings to KU, he said, "Corbin will be a nice addition to our program. He had a great high school career at Oak Park and has been well‑coached by our own Kansas alum, Sherron Collins. We feel Corbin can be a contributor in time, and we look forward to helping him develop and watching his progress."
It seems as if Bill Self believes that if Allen is able to stick it out and wait for his time (like Agbaji), he could turn out to be one of the greats when it's all said and done. He has the DNA of a winner; he's been around the area his whole life and knows what this team means to the fans, and he doesn't have the pressure or absurd expectations that players coming into Kansas often face. All of these factors usually spell out a recipe for success.
Allen may not see the floor this season, but if he puts in the necessary work, he'll be on the court in no time.
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