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Oklahoma State announces addition of 7-footer Anthony Allen

Travis Ford

Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Tech in the Big 12 men’s tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, March 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

AP

One of the issues for the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2013-14 was their lack of interior depth, with the ruptured Achilles tendon suffered by Michael Cobbins leaving head coach Travis Ford with Le’Bryan Nash and Kamari Murphy in his front court in Big 12 play. Oklahoma State still made the NCAA tournament, but the lack of interior depth and other issues meant that their stay was a short one.

Thursday the program announced the addition of a player many believe capable of helping the Cowboys in the post in 7-foot-1 center Anthony Allen. Allen played at Lamar State College-Port Arthur last season, posting averages of 11.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.2 blocks per game.

“Anthony is definitely a game changer at the defensive end,” said Lance Madison, head coach at LSC-Port Arthur. “He led the country in blocked shots two years in a row. He’s a good athlete, and runs the court extremely well. He’s gained a lot of confidence in his offense, and there is a lot of upside to it (his offense). He’s the most improved player in junior college the last two years.”

Allen is the sixth player the Cowboys have signed in its 2014 class, joining guard Jeff Newberry as the program’s second junior college addition. Cobbins and Nash will both be seniors and Murphy will be a junior, so there will be experience in the front court. And in addition to Allen, Oklahoma State signed incoming freshman center Mitchell Solomon.

Oklahoma State will have to account for the loss of Markel Brown and Marcus Smart, but the improved depth in the front court will help the Cowboys as they look to return to the NCAA tournament.

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