The Penn State Nittany Lions are reloading their backcourt with a sharpshooter from the Division II ranks. On Wednesday, the program announced the addition of Thomas Allard, a transfer from Alabama Huntsville, marking the fifth transfer pickup and fourth guard to join the team this offseason.
Allard's journey has been one of steady growth. After redshirting at Lincoln Memorial, he gradually increased his role before breaking out as a redshirt sophomore, shooting 46.7% from the field and an impressive 41.3% from beyond the arc. Last season at Alabama Huntsville, he averaged a career-high 13.7 points per game across 32 starts, with over half of his shot attempts coming from three-point range. Notably, at Lincoln Memorial, a staggering 79% of his shots were from deep, highlighting his fearless approach from distance.
This addition fits head coach Mike Rhoades' clear philosophy of targeting elite perimeter shooting to fill the void left by departing guards. While Allard will need time to adjust to the physicality of Big Ten play, his willingness to fire away from deep could prove invaluable in tight conference matchups. For Nittany Lions fans, this is another step in reshaping a roster built for pace and spacing.
