Self says newest KU roster addition Corbin Allen ‘can be a contributor in time’
Corbin Allen, a 6-foot-6 combo guard from Oak Park High School who announced plans to play basketball at the University of Kansas on Friday, has signed his financial aid agreement, coach Bill Self announced Tuesday.
Allen will join the Jayhawks as a freshman for the 2025-26 season.
“Corbin will be a nice addition to our program,” Self said Tuesday. “He had a great high school career at Oak Park and has been well coached by our own Kansas alum Sherron Collins. We feel Corbin can be a contributor in time and we look forward to helping him develop and watching his progress.”
The 175-pound Allen is a two-time winner of the DiRenna Award, which goes to the top high school player in the Kansas City area.
Allen is a three-time all-state first-team selection and was the first player in Oak Park High School history to surpass 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career. Former KU standout Ochai Agbaji is an Oak Park High graduate.
This past season, Allen led Oak Park to the Missouri Class 6 State title as the Northmen posted a 31-1 record. Allen averaged 16.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in 2024-25. As a junior at Oak Park, Allen averaged 17.5 points, 8.0 rebounds 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals.
In 2023-24, Collins’ first season as Oak Park head coach, the Northmen posted a 27-5 record and advanced to the Missouri Class 6 State Tournament semifinals.
On Friday, Allen, who played for the MOKAN Elite AAU program in KC, wrote on social media site X: “Blessed to announce my commitment to the University of Kansas! Thank you God for guiding me, and thank you to my family, teammates, and coaches for always believing in me. Ready for this next chapter!”
“Coach Collins has had the biggest impact on me because he’s been where I want to go, and I have a lot of respect for him as a coach. I’m always eager to learn from him,” Allen said on the Oak Park High website of second-year Oak Park coach Sherron Collins.
His profile on the Oak Park site reads: “Corbin Allen is a standout athlete with a rich basketball legacy in his family (mom played at Florida State, dad at Park University). With an impressive high school career, including multiple all-conference, all-district, and all-state honors, Corbin has proven to be one of Oak Park’s most dedicated players. ... With a passion for learning and growing as a player, Corbin’s focus and leadership on and off the court have earned him the respect of his teammates, coaches, and peers.”
Originally on Nov. 21, 2024, he chose San Diego over Kansas City, North Dakota State, Ball State, Murray State and Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Eventually he decommitted and was recruited by KU, Oklahoma State and others.
Allen, by the way, shared the DiRenna Award this past season with Keaton Wagler of SM Northwest. Allen was sole recipient his junior year. His coach, former KU guard Collins, recently was named the 2025 Eddie Ryan Coaching Award recipient for the state of Missouri.
“A lot of people have been asking the question can Corbin Allen shoot? The answer is YES! I’ve seen the hours he’s put into it and I promise very very soon you are all going to see it also,” Collins wrote on X prior to Allen’s senior year.
Allen joins a KU freshman class that includes Darryn Peterson, Bryson Tiller and Samis Calderon. KU has added portal players in Melvin Council Jr., Jayden Dawson and Tre White. Players returning from the 2024-25 team: Flory Bidunga, Elmarko Jackson, Jamari McDowell and Noah Shelby.
KU has three remaining scholarships to give.
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Self says newest KU roster addition Corbin Allen ‘can be a contributor in time’."
