Renee Johnson-Allen Heading to Drexel
EBL Division One All Star and Barking Abbey School pupil, Renee Johnson-Allen is headed to Philadelphia for the next four years after accepting a scholarship offer from Drexel University. The Drexel Dragons play in the Colonial Athletic Association, where they last year won the conference championships giving them the right to play in the prestigious NCAA tournament.
In the 64 team field, containing the best teams in America, Drexel lost out to Kansas State 68-44 at 'the Pit' in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The loss brought to an end the best season in school history, finishing up with 24 wins and 9 losses.
Point Guard, Renee is herself coming off a fine season in which she was voted to the EBL Division One All Star game for the best players in the top women's league in the country. She was selected by the coaches of the league after a series of fine performances for the Barking Abbey Rhondda Rebels in which she led the team in points scored, assists and steals. Renee was the youngest player selected for the game and participated along side a number of senior internationals under the guidance of Great Britain coach Damian Jennings.
As well as playing in the EBL Division One Renee also represented Barking Abbey School and the Haringey Angels, helping both to win National Titles. She leaves Barking Abbey School with back to back National Schools Six Form Colleges and Academies titles, defeating Hackney Community College and Lordswood College in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
Renee's season was cut short due to a broken bone in her foot, the injury causing her to miss the final few games of the season, including the RAF Final Fours for Haringey and the Interperformances Cup with Barking Abbey. It has also led her to pull out of representing the Great Britain U20 team in FYROM in the European B Division Championships in July. Renee was expected to play a major part for the team but this now allows to focus on rehabing and ensuring that she is fully fit for the start of classes in September.
Renee leaves Barking Abbey School with an A-Level in Psychology and a BTEC National Certificate in Sport and Exercise Science.
