Agoura’s Adam Allegro salutes Navy

Acorn Staff Writer


EYE ON THE FUTURE--Senior Adam Allegro of Agoura, one of the top high school basketball players until an injury forced him to miss last year, has bounced back and has agreed to play with the Naval Academy where academics and citizenship are also priorities.

EYE ON THE FUTURE–Senior Adam Allegro of Agoura, one of the top high school basketball players until an injury forced him to miss last year, has bounced back and has agreed to play with the Naval Academy where academics and citizenship are also priorities.

He may not be the next "Admiral," as in the great David Robinson, but Agoura High’s Adam Allegro, who recently agreed to play college basketball at the Naval Academy, certainly has his ship sailing in the right direction.


Allegro committed to play for Don DeVoe’s Navy team after picking from a pool of colleges that included West Point. Navy, now in its eighth year under DeVoe, is building a head of steam in the Patriot League and Allegro is anxious to be on board.


"[Coach DeVoe] thinks I could get a lot of playing time my freshman year," Allegro said. "He thinks I could step in and maybe play [swing] guard."


Lofty goals for a player who missed most of his junior year due to an ankle injury, but Allegro played so well during Agoura’s summer league games that Navy assistant Jimmy Williams couldn’t help but noticing.


"I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed an official visit any more than I enjoyed yours," Williams wrote to Allegro after the two met in Annapolis.


Allegro returned the compliment.


"After taking my first visit to Navy I just fit there," said Allegro. "I fell in love with it. Their style of play is so up tempo."


Williams got his first glimpse of the 6-5, 185-pound Allegro in July at the Rim Rattler Basketball Camp in Long Beach. Also attending the camp was Johnny Gray, Agoura High’s electrifying point guard.


Agoura went 20-6 over the summer as Allegro averaged 20 points per game and left little doubt among college scouts that his ankle injury had healed. Allegro also starred in club tournaments at Las Vegas, Fresno, Santa Barbara and Cal State Dominguez.


Although his game had come roaring back, Allegro remained in limbo about which college to attend. Relief came when he got accepted into Navy.


"I’m so happy I’m done with all this stress," Allegro said. "Now I can focus on the [Charger] team this year."


After Allegro suffered his December injury, the Chargers lost 10 of 12 Marmonte League games and finished last in the conference. Charger Coach Bill Sanchez was asked to resign as the team hit bottom.


But Sanchez, who groomed Allegro since his sophomore season, said he’s pleased that things have turned out for the best.


"I think he’s picked the right level to go to," Sanchez said. "I’m sure he understands the challenge and I think Adam’s ready to take it."


Allegro is a member of the Agoura Student Council and Senior Steering Committee at Agoura High, and with his 3.5 grade average and 1,200 SAT score, he’s every coach’s dream. The fact that he can drive to the hoop or shoot lights from the perimeter doesn’t hurt matters.


‘‘When he attacks the basket, there are very few people who can stop him," said Joe Riccio, the former athletic director at Santa Paula High School who replaced Sanchez.


"If this guy was healthy last year [Agoura] would have been dynamite."


This year, Riccio said, "We’re gonna take some people by surprise."


The Chargers play their first scrimmage of the season Nov. 22 at home against Nordhoff. Allegro will play the post position for Agoura, although in college, he’ll probably roam the perimeter more.


If Allegro thought coming back from a major injury and gaining admittance to college was tough, he knows that his military basic training will be even harder. Allegro begins boot camp June 30 at Annapolis.


When he graduates in 2005, Allegro may have forgotten basketball altogether; by then he’ll be an officer in the United States Navy.


"I’m actually really looking forward to it," Allegro said. "It’s something I’ve never really been exposed to."


Give Allegro credit. He knows how to salute a great opportunity.




Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *