Hailing from Arden, North Carolina, senior liberal arts major and Kansas City basketball player Shemarri Allen first started playing basketball in the 3rd grade.

  Growing up and seeing his older brothers play on the court helped him realize that playing basketball is something he always wanted to do. 

  Allen attributes his success to the support of his family and the connection he built with the coaches. 

  “My family constantly pushing me everyday reminding me that I can do anything to the best of my ability has really helped,” Allen shared. “I believe in what Marvin Menzies and the rest of the guys have planned for me in the future and just the bond we built when they first got to UMKC was what really made me want to come back and stay.” 

  That support helped lead him to his best season as a college player, averaging 17 points, five rebounds and 2.7 assist per game. Allen’s excellent play earned him on the Second Team All-Summit League and a spot on the Summit Leagues All-Defensive Team. Despite Allen’s efforts, the Roos season ended early, going 11-21 and losing in the first round of the Summit League tournament to Omaha with a score of 73-61. 

  Allen is still proud of his team and can’t wait for next year’s season. 

  “We battled a lot of injuries but we still fought through adversity,” Allen says. “It didn’t end the way we wanted but we’re definitely looking to have a way better year next year.”

  Even though the Roos struggled, there were some bright spots within the season. Allen said his favorite memory of the season was the road victory over Toledo at the Thanksgiving tournament in Florida.

   “We came in as the underdogs so to get a win over a team of that caliber was very exciting and it was cool to see my teammates happy,” Allen said.

  After graduation, Allen plans to travel and workout in North Carolina, Arizona and Oklahoma. In June, he will come back to Kansas City to start the summer workouts. Before Allen leaves UMKC, he wants to win the Summit League conference and leave a legacy by helping the Roos make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

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