Inside the Huddle | Allen Wins Two High-School National Titles, Makes Big-Time Buckets in Path to Illinois

Cori grew up around the game, frequently dribbling a basketball in the corner while her dad, who spent two seasons at Tennessee and competed professionally overseas, played pick-up games at a local gym. 

She remembers first taking part in basketball when she was two years old, and it is the only sport she has ever played in a competitive setting. Sure, she would play other sports at the park or with friends in a somewhat serious manner, but basketball was the lone activity she actively pursued at a higher and more organized level.

As Cori got older, her competitiveness also grew, and she would compete with her dad in every way she could: basketball, shoes, clothes, you name it. Given their similar names, Cori wanted to outmatch her dad’s hoops legacy and worked hard to reach that goal.

“I think a lot of it has to do with our names being similar,” Corey Allen said. “She was like, ‘I want to be the best Cori/Corey Allen. I’m the best Cori/Corey.’ She was kind of known as Little Cori/Corey. She wants to call me Little Cori/Corey now. It kind of derived from that, and then her just thinking, ‘One day, I’m gonna beat him.’”

Corey coached his daughter’s team from second through seventh grade, and it was during this time that Cori started gaining attention from colleges across the country. She earned her first two offers at the age of 11, which served as additional motivation and encouragement.