A big task on head coach Chris Beard’s to-do list is get the Texas fanbase familiar with the new players who will suit up in the burnt orange this season. Wednesday’s media availability for Texas men’s basketball was driven by Beard’s desire to foster that fan-athlete relationship to increase attendance and therefore wins during the season.

Next to Beard sat senior forward Timmy Allen, a transfer from Utah. Beard said he and Allen share the same vision about winning, something that attracted him most to the 6-foot-6-inch front man. 

“He’s overcome a lot of adversity to be here at this level today,” Beard said. “I’m excited for you guys to spend a few minutes with him now and develop a relationship with him over time.” 

The Arizona product spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Utah. Allen chose Utah over offers from Beard’s former school Texas Tech, UCLA and Iowa State, among others, but decided to enter the transfer portal after Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak was fired in March. 

Allen received first team Pac-12 honors during his final season with Utah and averaged 17.2 points per game.

“He’s a humble guy, but he’s one of the best players in college basketball,” Beard said. “He can do a lot of different things (and) he can impact the game in a lot of different ways. He’s everything our program is about and will be about. He’s got a toughness to him and an unselfishness to him.” 

Aside from praising Allen for his skills as a basketball player, Beard also highlighted Allen’s personal struggles that helped him become the elite player he is today. Allen’s mother, Elise, passed away during his junior year of high school after a battle with cancer. 

“My recruitment was really good for a while (in) my junior year, and then my mom passed and I took a couple months off,” Allen said. “I just slipped a little bit in my game.”

Although Allen’s mother did not get the chance to see her son play college basketball, he carries her memory with him through everything he does. 

“She has everything to do with why I’m here and what I’m doing and how I do it,” Allen said. “She’s the heart of my heart. I am her. She lives through me. So that’s kind of what I’m trying to bleed into this program.” 

Allen has responded well to the culture of hard work Beard has worked to instil in his first year at Texas. Allen said he wanted to be surrounded by the best players in the country, and that Texas gives him the best opportunity to challenge himself.

“That’s something new for me here. … I want that tough practice every day,” Allen said. “I want to be coached hard every day and I want to be surrounded by great people and players every day. So being here is just the best fit for me.”