Vasean Allette Q&A
Among the biggest stock risers this summer is 2023 guard Vasean Allette of United Scholastic Academy (CAN) and Canada Elite (CAN). The 6’3” Canadian was the 2022 Boys BioSteel All Canadian MVP along with Texas Tech’s Elijah Fisher. Allette’s calling card is his scoring ability and elite ball skills, being able to break down defenders as a self creator and finish at the rim. Some of his notable offensive outbursts include dropping 55 points in a Premier Prep League game and 46 points on the UA Next Circuit against Middlesex Magic (MA). Further, the rising senior led the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in scoring at 18.8 points per game. With his production and potential on full display, Allette has seen his recruitment unlock as high majors have entered the picture.
As part of the Pro Insight Q&A series, Allette highlighted his athletic and family background, the progression of Canada’s basketball culture as college coaches converged in Canadian gyms, overcoming adversity and playing at the FIBA U18 Americas this past summer, and much more.
For the next installment of the Pro Insight Q&A series, we present 2023 prospect Vasean Allette, from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada:
Pro Insight: How did you get to where you are today? Talk a bit about your background and family.
Vasean Allette: Well, my older brother who is nine years older than me always played basketball as a kid even when he was in high school. So as soon as I was born, I was just born into a basketball environment, a whole basketball family, but basketball wasn't really my first sport. When I was first born, I was closer to my mom’s side of the family. So my uncle played soccer, so I guess I was just put into soccer maybe because of that, I don't know, but I just gravitated towards basketball. It has just always been something I've been just driven to play, driven to do, and it just brought me to where I am today.
PI: Where were your parents from? Were they born and raised in Ontario, Canada?
VA: My pops was born in Montreal and my mom was born here in Toronto.
PI: Did you play any other sports growing up besides soccer?
VA: Oh growing up, I played all sports all-year round, but the only sport I was really as good at as I am in basketball was in volleyball. Most people don't know. I was really good at volleyball. I played all sports though, but I kind of took volleyball and basketball seriously up until grade eight and from then, it was just straight basketball.
PI: Any other athletes in the family?
VA: No. My brother, I do have a twin who plays on the same AAU team, same high school team. It's just me and him kind of just carrying that athletic side of the family right now.
PI: What’s it like to have a twin brother and share the court together?
VA: We push each other to be the very best we can be. Also, playing with my twin on the court, it's just fun. So we just have that connection to where he knows where I am. A lot of times I know where he is at all times. Just makes the game more fun having a connection with somebody on the court.
PI: For those who aren’t familiar with your game, what are your greatest strengths and playstyle?
VA: My playstyle…I'm a scorer. That's the name I've had my whole life as scorer, but I also like to pass. I feel like my passing is just up there right with my scoring. My strengths would be ball-handling, passing, shooting, stuff like that. So I would describe my game as like I don't know who I could give a comparison to. I watch a lot of guys, but a lot of old school guys. I watch Steve Francis. I watch Allen Iverson, Kobe, stuff like that. So I'd probably say I'm like a scorer, but I also like to pass, get guys involved and then know when to take over a game.
PI: Was there a Canadian player you looked up to growing up?
VA: I definitely watched Andrew Wiggins as a kid. All his high school mixtapes up until where he is now. Of course, it's gotta be [him].
PI: What type of leader are you?
VA: I'm just that one guy where it's like I know the platform I have, so I just try to use that to uplift my teammates. People around me build more confidence in them, 'cause I know that I can't do this alone. I just like to lead my team in the right way, get them their opportunities, get them their confidence and just get us all going.
PI: What do you feel you still need to improve on the most? What have you been working on?
VA: Honestly, my off-the-dribble midrange shot. That's the shot that's becoming more popular day in and day out, and it's a shot I don't really do a lot in my game. It’s just I guess it's like an easier way to score. People who guard you either force you to the basket or force you to shoot the ball. I kind of think when you can just dribble, dribble, stop, and pop, it's just an easy way to access the game.
PI: What’s your training regimen?
VA: First, when I get into the gym, we start off with form shooting. We form shoot five spots around right in the key. And then we move out to form mid-range shots and then free throws, mid-ranges again and then 3 pointers in them. And I kind of do that myself before practice and then we get into a practice and after it's kind of like a cool down stretch, go see the trainer, and work on my body, stuff like that.
PI: Reflecting on the past high school season, how was your experience with United Scholastic Academy?
VA: Oh man, that team was great. I’m gonna miss some of the guys that have left this year. We all have been playing with each other for how long so we just all had a great connection on the court. We're all best friends on and off the court, so we brought that into every game. Some great guys to play with man, wow.
PI: What are your short term goals you have for yourself as a player?
VA: Well, the short term goal is to go Division I. That's been my goal since I was a kid. I see myself as one of the best college players. I do wanna go one-and-done, but I do also want to graduate from college and get my college degree just to say, you know I did it — do it fo