Detroit Mercy star Corey Allen says he’s transferring
The Detroit Mercy men's basketball program is in a serious state of upheaval.
Not only did the university recently pull the plug on Bacari Alexander's coaching tenure just two years into a contract that was much longer, star guard Corey Allen is transferring.
Allen made the announcement last month to his modest Twitter following, and Detroit Mercy never passed along the decision.
There were rumblings that Allen might transfer after his freshman season, but he stayed for one more.
Allen, the first Mr. Basketball finalist to sign with Detroit Mercy since 2010, was the Horizon League freshman of the year in 2016-17, after averaging 14.4 points. He averaged 14.4 points again as a sophomore.
The point guard out of Ypsilanti High would figure to be a significant prize for another mid-major program, if not a Power Five school. There are rumblings Eastern Michigan could be a landing spot. He also planned a visit to Georgia State, where former Detroit Mercy head coach Ray McCallum Sr. is on the staff.
In two years at Detroit Mercy, Allen shot 42 percent from 3-point range.
But teamwise, things were a struggle. The Titans were 8-23 his freshman year, Alexander's first, and 8-24 this past season.
Alexander was fired March 26.
The big question is whether Allen's departure will open the flood gates.
A lot could hinge on the next head coach; Jermaine Jackson is believed to still be the interim coach, and has long been interested in the top position. He was runner-up to Alexander two years ago, and served as interim coach during Alexander's seven-game suspension last fall.
If Jackson is passed over, the attention will turn to his son, another star guard for the Titans, Jermaine Jackson Jr. The former Macomb Dakota star averaged 10.5 points his freshman season at Detroit Mercy.
Redshirt junior Kameron Chatman, who averaged 17.8 points, will test the NBA Draft waters, but has not hired an agent.
Chatman's father, Canaan Chatman, also was on Alexander's staff, and Chatman came to Detroit Mercy because of his relationship with Alexander when Alexander was on John Beilein's staff at Michigan.
It's not clear how far along Detroit Mercy is in finding Alexander's successor.
Athletic director Robert Vowels has not answered questions on Alexander's firing or the direction the school wants to go for the next head coach. He hasn't returned multiple texts and calls from The Detroit News.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
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