Penn State's basketball roster is a mix of some experienced returners, but a lot of transfers and international risks. It is a huge gamble for a team not necessarily expected to contend in the Big Ten this season but also an experiment that could come together in a unique way. Today, we take a look at one of Penn State's integral transfer additions in former Alabama-Huntsville star Thomas Allard.
Preseason Player Profile
- Hometown: Suwanee, Georgia
- Height: 6-7
- Weight: 210
- Class in 2026-27: Graduate Student
Recruiting Rankings
Thomas Allard is the rare American recruit who was unranked by rating services. As he ended up with a Division II school, Allard didn't receive a star rating until he transferred to Penn State. He was graded a 3 star transfer prospect and was ranked the 98th overall shooting guard in the portal.
Career Stats
Allard split time in Division II with two separate schools.
At the start of his collegiate career, Allard played for Lincoln Memorial University. After redshirting his freshman year, he averaged 8.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 43.3 percent from 3 point range. In his redshirt junior season, he transferred to Alabama-Huntsville where he had a breakout campaign. He averaged 13.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game and had 24 performances in which he scored in double digits.
Projected role in 2026-27
Offensively, Allard is yet another high IQ sharpshooter in Penn State's deep rotation of guards. 52 percent of his shots last year came from beyond the arc, and I expect those numbers to be no different. He can shoot those shots at a high clip as well. However, what could be highly important for Penn State is how he can rotate defensively. As a taller guard, he can switch onto perimeter players as well as forwards down low due to his length. In small ball lineups, Allard could stretch the floor offensively and be able to hang with opposing forwards defensively.
Random fact
Allard actually received his bachelor's degree(in biology) before his athletic eligibility ran out.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State men's basketball player profile: Thomas Allard, Guard
