Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague
 
The truth be told, Allen Kuiper was almost a major college football player.
 
“I had some really good schools recruiting me for football,” Kuiper said. “I had offers from Robert Morris and Duquesne to play football.”
 
But the Spotswood High School graduate had a bit of information for the Pennsylvania Division I-AA schools.
 
“I honestly didn’t like playing football,” Kuiper said. “I couldn’t see myself sticking with football.”
 
Kuiper wanted to play basketball on the collegiate level, so he first headed to Lycoming College, where he stayed for his freshman year.
 
Kuiper actually gave playing football a try at Lycoming.
 
“I think I did it for about a week and a half,” Kuiper said. “It was too tough. I said I’m not going this again.”
 
Kuiper remained a member of the basketball team at Lycoming for a full year.
 
“I just thought I should have played more,” Kuiper said.
 
He transferred to King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. and earned a starting slot there.
 
“I started for the first nine games,” Kuiper said.
 
But Kuiper ran into academic difficulties and became ineligible.
 
At that point, Kuiper started to think about more comfortable surroundings.
 
“I always went to Rutgers-Newark basketball camp since I was like five or six years old,” said Kuiper, whose parents both work in Newark. “I knew Coach (Joe) Loughran all that time. I had Jermont Horton and Phil Carter (two all-time great R-N players) as counselors in camp. I grew up watching Rutgers-Newark basketball games. It made sense for me.”
 
It made sense for Loughran as well, since the Scarlet Raiders had just graduated three big forwards and Loughran was looking for some bulk down low.
 
“I’ve known Allen forever,” Loughran said. “I knew that he bounced around a few colleges and was aware he wanted to come home. It was perfect timing, because we lost some big guys and needed to replace them.”
 
As easy as that, Kuiper became a member of the Scarlet Raiders.
 
“It was all good for me,” Kuiper said. “I knew a lot of people who went here. I knew some of the players and they were really nice. I liked the coaching staff. There was a good family atmosphere here. I got along well with the other guys on the team. It was a good fit.”
 
The 6-foot-5 Kuiper has provided the Scarlet Raiders with tenacity and strength close to the basket.
 
“No question, he gave us much needed depth up front,” Loughran said. “He’s a big-time physical presence. He does have some offensive skills, but mostly, he’s a strong body with decent foot work. He’s stepped right in and played a huge role.”


Kuiper averaged 2.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season. He has improved those numbers to 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 25 games this year.
 
“I’m just happy to play here for two years,” Kuiper said. “I didn’t know what I was going to do after King’s. Coach Loughran gave me a chance here. He gets you ready to play basketball, but he also gets you ready for life after basketball. He’s tough, but he’s a really good coach.”
 
Kuiper and Loughran will lead the Scarlet Raiders into the postseason, as they will face York College of New York in the opening round of the ECAC Metro Division III championships Wednesday night at the Golden Dome.
 
The 18-9 Scarlet Raiders are the No. 2 seed in the eight-team field.
 
Kuiper likes the camaraderie he has with fellow inside player Elvis Hodzic.
 
“Elvis and I are very tight,” Kuiper said. “We’re both energy guys. We bring a lot of fire to the team. We’re ready to do whatever Coach needs.”
 
“I think the other guys like Allen a lot,” Loughran said. “He’s really grown up since last year. He’s matured and that maturity has stepped up his game.”
 
Incredibly, Kuiper said that he didn’t do a lot of work on his game during the offseason.
 
“Honestly, I didn’t play a lot of basketball,” Kuiper said. “I did do a lot of lifting six out of seven days in a week. I really wanted to be strong and physical this season, so I concentrated on that. When the season began, I worked on my free throws and that’s really helped. I basically needed to improve there and I did. But I basically just play hard and get rebounds.”
 
Kuiper said that he doesn’t exactly know what he wants to do after graduating with an English degree in May.
 
“I’ve been thinking about going into the Navy,” Kuiper said. “I might like to coach girls’ basketball.”
 
Kuiper’s younger sister, Maranie, just committed to St. Leo’s University in Florida where she will play next year.
 
“I push her to make her better,” Kuiper said. “She’s in a boarding school in Massachusetts, so I don’t get to see her as often as I would like. But I like coaching girls’ basketball. I think I’ll be a good coach.”
 
Whatever road Kuiper chooses, he’s glad that he traveled the road created by Rutgers-Newark men’s basketball.
 
“I’ve learned a lot here,” Kuiper said. “I’m getting a good degree and played good basketball. It was the best thing for me.”