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UAPB Sports Information- Cameo Stokes

Men's Basketball 1/15/2014 6:29:00 PM Cameo Stokes, UAPB Sports Information

UAPB Basketball Legend: In Memory of a Shooting Star, James Mack “RED” Allen

James Mack "Red" Allen

Pine Bluff, AR- The Lions family and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff mourn the loss of its very own legendary basketball player James Mack "RED" Allen. He passed away Friday in his home in West Palm Beach, Florida.

James Red Allen was an Alumnus of AM&N now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He played basketball for the Golden Lions from 1960-1964, where he became a three-time NAIA second team All-American.

Red played a vital role for UAPB basketball along with his teammates and friend Harold Blevins, who led the Lions to the top of the NCAA II ranks in team scoring in with an average of 100 points per contest during the 1963-64 basketball season.

James Mack Allen scored nearly 3,000 points in his collegiate career, playing in the early 1960s, playing in the advent of the three-point shot. If Allen was playing in today's rule he might would have double his point total and reach close to 5,000 points.

Allen put his talent on display from the start at AM&N scoring 70 points in his first game as a Golden Lion, against College of Ozark in Clarksville his freshman year in 1960. Another one of his best performance came four years later in 1964, when Allen scored 56 points in an upset over one of the top team in the NAIA at the time No.2 Grambling Tigers, scoring 56 against Willie Reed who was inducted into the NBA basketball Hal of Fame.

He also led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring all four of his years at AM&N out playing future NBA stars such as Bob "Butterbean" Love, Willie Reed, and Luscious Jackson.

James Allen never got a chance to play in the NBA despite finishing his senior season averaging 31.6 points per game and still holding the record at UAPB. His lack of size- 5'10, 150 pounds did not help his case, but if he had been 6'2 or 6'3 he would have definitely been a lottery pick on an NBA team.

Allen was known for being called "Radar", "Pocket Rocket" and "Arkansas Red" in his playing career. Allen graduated with a Physical Education degree in 1964 ranking him No. 6 on the small college scoring list with 2,837 points, No. 3 in NAIA history in a career scoring averaging 28.6 points.
UAPB basketball talent was so good around the country that Allen & Blevins were invited to the 1964 Olympic Trial in Kansas City, Mo.

After his college basketball career James Allen toured around showcasing his skills in Los Angles, being known as a "playground legend". In the summer James Allen spent his time playing on courts around L.A., dropping 38 points against NBA All-Star & Hall of Fame Jerry West.

One thing Allen was also known for was his quote on a Nike commercial, when asked "do you ever get tired playing basketball"?, " Allen responded back saying " You don't ever get tired when the ball is going in".

James Mack "Red" Allen was not only a student of the game but was a teacher. His legacy will carry on forever in the history of Golden Lion Country.

James Allen is survived by his wife Florida, three sons (Sean, Brandon, Brian) and a daughter (Linda).

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