The entire Flanigan family is keeping its collective fingers crossed this week.
The two-day 2024 NBA Draft opens on Wednesday. Now-former Ole Miss wing Allen Flanigan is obviously hoping to hear his name called. But, really, he just wants an opportunity. Any opportunity.
“He’s getting a few frequent-flyer miles right now,’ his father, Wes Flanigan, said last week. Flanigan is on staff under Chris Beard as an assistant coach at Ole Miss.
“He’s got maybe four or five workouts planned before the draft. He’s just trying to put his best foot forward and see what happens from that point. He’ll have a chance to do some things. Being here with coach Beard and this program and this staff has prepared him for the moment he’s in right now.”
Both nights (first round on June 26, second on June 27) of the draft tip off at 7 p.m. CT at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Atlanta Hawks hold the No. 1 overall selection and appear zeroed-in on a decision between a pair of Frenchmen: Zaccharie Risacher, a forward, and Alexandre Sarr, a center.
Allen Flanigan and fellow Ole Miss guard Matthew Murrell each took part in the NBA G League Elite Camp back in May. Flanigan also went to the Portsmouth Invitational with Rebel teammate Jamarion Sharp. However, Murrell ultimately returned to Ole Miss for a fifth and final season.
Flanigan exhausted his final year of eligibility after just one season with the Rebels. He transferred to Ole Miss following four seasons at Auburn. Flanigan topped the Rebels in rebounding (6.1 per game) and was second in scoring (14.8 ppg).
“I’m his father, so I’m a little biased,” Wes Flanigan said. “I watched him for five years in the SEC, and there’s been a lot of guys that’s been drafted ahead of him.
“For him, man, he’s just looking for an opportunity.”
“If there’s a team out there that understands who he is and can use him and his strengths, that’s where I’d like to see him be, whether that’s overseas or G League or NBA. I definitely think he has NBA potential and can play in that league.”
Ole Miss won 20 games but missed the postseason entirely in 2023-24.
The new-look Rebels are already deep-off in their off-season strength and conditioning program, which includes hours of on-court instruction as well.
“Allen Flanigan, and I know this is going far, is the best wing I’ve seen put on an Ole Miss jersey, as far as the athleticism and both offense and defense,” all-time Ole Miss great and Beard staffer Murphy Holloway said.
“Going through this process, I think he’ll be fine. He’s just a competitor and a great basketball player.”
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