RALEIGH Thomas Allen may be playing basketball in New Hampshire at Brewster Academy for now, but he’ll be back in N.C. starting next year. The former Garner High guard will return to the Triangle as part of NC State’s 2017 recruiting class after signing his letter of intent Tuesday.Allen, a 4-star shooting guard according to 247Sports, is the No. 30 shooting guard in the country. He is the first commit to NC State for next year’s class, which follows up coach Mark Gottfried’s strong class including Dennis Smith and Omer Yurtseven this season.”I’m very excited,” Gottfried said in a release. “Thomas is a guy we have watched for a long time. He is an excellent shooter, and he has a tremendous feel for the game. We believe he can play either guard spot for us. He is a product of two great programs in Garner High School and now Brewster Academy, and he is a young man that knows how to win.”What Allen brings to the Wolfpack lineup is a solid guard next to Torin Dorn and Markell Johnson for the future. With Smith expected to make the immediate jump to the 2017 NBA Draft as a potential top-10 pick, Allen can take his spot in the guard rotation.Brewster has produced some great basketball players over the years, including former ACC Player of the Year for NC State T.J. Warren. Allen may play a completely different position, but hopes to bring the same success to Raleigh when he returns.”It means a lot for me to sign with NC State,” Allen said. “I’m from 10 minutes down the road. I’ve been coming to games at NC State since I was 10 years old and Sidney Lowe was the head coach. I believe I’m a good fit for the program. I think I can come in and provide energy, show leadership, score and have the ability to play either guard spot.”
