Buckeyes Sign Ari Allen to Complete 2021 Recruiting Class
3/4/2021 3:36:04 PM | Men's Lacrosse
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ari Allen, a two-sport football and lacrosse standout at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., has signed a national letter of intent to further his academic and athletic career as a member of the Ohio State men’s lacrosse program.
Allen’s signing completes the Buckeyes’ 2021 recruiting class. The group consists of 12 student-athletes from seven different states and one province of Canada. In addition to Allen, the newest Buckeyes are: Henry Blake (Kentfield, Calif.), Dante Bowen (Brampton, Ontario), Matthew Fritz (Blue Bell, Pa.), James Gurr (Marietta, Ga.), Garrett Haas (Highland, Utah), Owen Heinecke (Tulsa, Okla.), Aidan Kenley (Powell, Ohio), Alex Marinier (Burlington, Ontario), Matthew Mercer (Centerville, Ohio), Edward Shean (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and Bobby Van Buren (Wingate, N.C.).
“The recruiting journey with Ari and his family has been like no other,” said head coach Nick Myers. “We have built a special bond and enjoyed watching him grow as both a young man and athlete. His talents on the football field really speak for themselves. We knew football was our biggest obstacle in recruiting Ari and wanted him to pursue every option he had. He had an outstanding fall season with IMG and we enjoyed following his successes. Seasons have changed and he called us recently and shared that he was ready to chase his best on the lacrosse field. That was the moment we knew this was really going to come to fruition.”
Allen, who originally is from Georgia, was rated by Inside Lacrosse as the No. 54 overall player in the Class of 2021, even after missing the entire summer lacrosse circuit of his Rising Junior summer as he pursued football. A playmaker that can excel at both attack and midfield, he helped IMG finish with 11 wins in his last full season during the spring of 2019, and the team is currently off to an undefeated start in 2021. He played on the summer club circuit with the Thunder LB3 National 2021, while excelling in individual showcases such as Maverik Showtime as well as the Under Armour Underclassman games with the Southwest team.
“Ari is an electric playmaker on the lacrosse field that seems to get more comfortable making plays every time we see him play,” said Myers. “Beyond Ari’s talent is a young man who has a strong faith and is determined to be successful. His drive and work ethic is just different. You talk to other players that have competed with or against him and they all love him. He just has a way about him that draws you in. We are thrilled with this signing and what it means for an already strong class of 2021 recruits coming to campus this fall. Coach Crane deserves to be recognized for not only this signing but also the class as a whole. He has done a remarkable job with these men and their families throughout the recruiting process.”
“I committed Ohio State because I knew it would set me up for success during and after college,” said Allen. “With all the resources it offers, I couldn’t pass Ohio State up. I had a great connection with the coaching staff. The culture and brotherhood I will be joining is strong. I felt like the players had the same goals and dreams as I did, which felt great. Ohio State felt like home from the minute I stepped on campus. I thank God for this opportunity!”
On the football field, Allen played slot receiver for an IMG Academy program that sends players to Power 5 programs every year. The Buckeyes’ 2021 football roster includes three players from the school. He led the team in receptions in 2020 for a team that 8-0 and finished No. 1 in the final USA Today Sports Super 25 high school football poll. Allen caught 28 passes for a team-high 414 yards and three touchdowns.
“Ari is a five-star character young man,” said Bobby Acosta, head football coach at IMG Academy. “He can help change and enhance a locker room with the type of person he is. The sky is the limit for him as an athlete. As a leader, he’s off the charts. He’s always doing the right thing and is a kind of person other naturally gravitate to.”
Allen comes from an extremely athletic family that also has Ohio roots. His grandparents, Diane and James Lardie, are from Shaker Heights, as is his mother, Mary Allen. Allen’s aunt, Maria, played basketball at Florida State while his other aunt, Missy, ran track at Youngstown State. His uncle, James, was a football player at Kent State. Allen has four older siblings, all of whom either played or are currently playing college lacrosse: Noelle (played at Newberry), twins Ashley and Alex (currently playing at Limestone) and Moses (on the team at Limestone).
