Here’s why Teddy Allen’s chances of playing at WSU this season have increased

There are three weeks before the college basketball season, but Wichita State fans aren’t thinking about the games just yet.

There’s still one vital question to be answered before the Shockers’ season starts: Can West Virginia transfer Teddy Allen play this season?

If the NCAA answers yes and grants Allen a waiver, he would likely start right away for WSU. The 6-foot-5 wing has a proven track record of scoring at the Big 12 level and has been WSU’s best scorer in practices. And maybe some of the AAC coaches would like to have their ballots back after they picked WSU to finish eighth earlier this week.

So what are Allen’s chances of playing this season? Here’s everything WSU fans need to know.

About the appeals process

Wichita State has submitted a request for a legislative relief waiver for Allen, which asks the NCAA to allow the transfer to forgo the mandated academic year in residence to be closer to his support system in Boys Town, Nebraska.

Under new policies pass by the NCAA Division I Council in April, WSU must demonstrate Allen’s transfer from West Virginia to WSU was due to “documented mitigating circumstances that are outside the student-athlete’s control and directly impacts the health, safety or well-being of the student-athlete.” Other items evaluated in the process include the overall academic record of Allen and West Virginia’s position on the waiver request.

Allen’s waiver was submitted approximately two weeks ago by WSU’s associate athletic director for student services Korey Torgerson.

The paperwork included a written statement from Allen describing the mitigating circumstances and facts surrounding the case. WSU also had to include appropriate documentation that substantiates the information in the facts and mitigating circumstances.

A case manager has been assigned by the NCAA and the waiver is currently under review. It is common for the case manager to contact the institution with additional questions and/or request additional information.

According to the NCAA website, the standard processing time is typically three weeks but certain cases could require more time. Under that timeline, the earliest an official decision regarding Allen’s eligibility could be delivered is next week.

WSU’s exhibition game is October 30 against Catawba (S.C.) and its season-opener against Louisiana Tech is November 6.

Why Boys Town matters to Allen

Boys Town is a small village just outside of Omaha that is dedicated to the care, treatment and education of at-risk children who suffer from behavioral, emotional and academic issues.

Allen came to Boys Town from Mesa, Ariz. just after his 17th birthday in August 2015. Boys Town High School athletic director Paul Blomenkamp still remembers his arrival.

“He had some maturing to do when he came here,” Blomenkamp said. “We provided him a lot of resources and teaching and that all helped, but the bottom line was that he was the one who had to decide to make that change. Had to decide, ‘I need to work on some things and this place allows me to do that.’ It was his choice.”

Allen continued to excel on the basketball court but began maturing as a person away from it. His grades steadily improved and he was granted permission to leave the campus to play on a traveling AAU basketball team during the summer, which helped his recruitment and ultimately led to him being recruited by West Virginia.

It was the first time in over 20 years, according to Blomenkamp, that a student was allowed to leave the village.

“Teddy would be the first one to admit he’s made some mistakes in his life, but he’s also had some struggles in his home life and his home environment,” Blomenkamp said. “After he got to Boys Town, he dedicated himself to being a good person and treating people with respect. His behavior and his maturity level gave us the confidence to let him go off-campus and know he could handle it.”

Those struggles didn’t give Allen much structure or accountability growing up. Boys Town offered both on top of the care and support that allowed Allen to thrive.

“We’re not a prep school where we’re bringing in kids to play sports,” Blomenkamp said. “Sometimes they do well and get an athletic scholarship, but that’s just a byproduct. For Teddy, I think the biggest thing was that he was in a place where the people cared for him and loved him as a person first and not as a basketball player.”

Communication with that type of support system was limited when Allen moved to Morgantown, W.Va. There wasn’t a chance for Blomenkamp or Tom Krehbiel, Boys Town’s basketball coach, to have those face-to-face conversations that reached Allen.

Now in Wichita, Allen is a five-hour drive away from Boys Town. On breaks from school and practice, Allen can return more easily to the place he now calls home.

“Since I’ve been back I’ve improved in areas that were the reasons that made me want to come closer to home,” Allen told the Eagle. “I’ve improved in those areas off the floor, so I think it’s helping me as an all-around person. I’m just ready to see how I can be when I’m flourishing off the court.”

Blomenkamp and Krehbiel made the drive earlier this month to watch Allen play in WSU’s season-kickoff scrimmage.

Regardless of the NCAA’s looming decision, Blomenkamp said he’s just happy Allen is closer to home and he’s confident he is back on track to being his best self — on and off the basketball court.

“He’s a good kid and he’s got a good heart,” Blomenkamp said. “Teddy hasn’t had the easiest life ever. We know he maybe doesn’t have a place to go back home to and this has become his home. We take it upon ourselves to stay in contact with him, so he knows this is home and we’re here to help and we still care about him. We don’t wash our hands of them when they leave. This is still home.”

Does Allen have a case?

Allen’s chances of receiving a waiver seemed like a Hail Mary by WSU when he transferred back in May, but the NCAA has been increasingly lenient in granting waivers this summer.

And now there is precedent for a case similar to Allen’s receiving a legislative relief waiver after the NCAA approved the request from St. John’s for high-profile transfer Mustapha Heron to play immediately this season.

Heron transferred from Auburn to St. John’s to be closer to his ailing mother in Waterbury, Conn., which is a little less than a two-hour drive from New York City.

“Ultimately, I think the NCAA is afraid of lawsuits,” said Stadium’s Jeff Goodman, a long-time college basketball reporter. “They can’t figure it out. They go back and forth. They don’t give any waivers, now they’re back to giving them out left and right.”

It’s likely Allen’s mental health and well-being have improved since his arrival to Wichita and its proximity to his support system in Boys Town, but Allen’s case could revolve around whether Allen and WSU can document well enough the mitigating circumstances that led to his decision to transfer from West Virginia.

“It’s as much valid as other ones I’ve heard,” Goodman said upon hearing about Allen’s case. “If the NCAA is giving out some of the other waivers they have, then Teddy Allen has as good of case as anybody.”

Allen’s teammates have been monitoring the other waiver cases and have come to a similar conclusion.

“We’re praying he can play,” WSU senior Markis McDuffie said. “I’ve seen a lot of guys getting cleared on the Internet, so if he doesn’t get cleared I don’t think that’s fair. Hopefully he does because he’s going to help us a lot.”

In the meantime, all Allen can do is wait — and hope.

“I’m prepared either way,” Allen said. “Either way, I’m going to be working. It’s tough, but it’s not as hard because I’m with my teammates and we’re just grinding. I’m doing everything I can to help make my teammates better every day in practice and make myself better, too.”

This story was originally published October 17, 2018 at 7:03 PM.