Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Tiger Talks: Devona Allgood '12
November 03, 2016 | Women's Basketball
PRINCETON, N.J. - "I will forever be grateful for the opportunity given to me to be a part of the Princeton women's basketball program."
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Tiger Talks will be weekly posts from former players sharing their experience at Princeton. This week features Devona Allgood '12.
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Allgood was a three-time All-Ivy selection and was selected to the Ivy League All-Rookie Team as a freshman. She finished her time at Princeton with 1,177 points, grabbed 802 rebounds and swatted 138 shots in 115 career games. Allgood is the program's all-time leader in games played, is third in blocks, fourth in field goal percentage (.530), rebounds and seventh in rebounding average (6.97).
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Devona is currently a Civil Engineer for the Town of Huntersville in North Carolina. She is also the head coach for the middle school girls' basketball team at Lake Norman Charter. She volunteers additional time at local urban universities and high schools, aiming to open their minds to the world of opportunity that exists outside of their communities.
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Allgood's story goes like this…
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Growing up in North Carolina, the heart of ACC basketball, I never saw myself playing for an Ivy League university. As a matter of fact, when Coach Banghart, (then, the assistant coach at Dartmouth College), called me, I'm not sure I could've sounded less enthused about an Ivy League option. I entertained her call, however, as my mother warned me that "coaches move around." We hung up and I went back to my dreams of being the next ACC superstar.Â
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It wasn't until Coach Banghart's voice projected from a "Princeton University" caller ID a few weeks later, that I considered a basketball career in the Ivy League. What about Princeton changed my mind? It still wasn't ACC, they weren't mentioned among the best in women's basketball (yet), and it was way too far from home!Â
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Greatness - it was the existing greatness that surrounded the name, the potential for greatness within the program, and the desire for greatness expressed through Coach Banghart. I knew that Princeton had a reputation of producing exemplary results in the form of graduates and career opportunities, but surely an entity with such excellence would not want to limit their prominence to just a few areas. I felt the passion behind wanting to continue building a program worthy of the Princeton name and I felt honored that Coach Banghart believed I could help in getting it there. Â
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Any basketball player knows the life skills that this sport teaches you: discipline, commitment, character, teamwork and sacrifice, to name a few. However, not many programs can introduce you to the concept of vision. Vision isn't just what you see with your physical eyes, but it requires you to dig deeper and see things for what they are yet to be. Vision allows you to anticipate the backdoor pass, as well as the championship season. It allows you to see the manifestation of your commitment to success before you achieve it. It leaves no room for doubt or discouragement because you know that greatness attracts greatness; and when you put together a program full of players, coaches, trainers, and administration who understand and expect such greatness, the only result can be... greatness. Â
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I will forever be grateful for the opportunity given to me to be a part of the Princeton women's basketball program. Every conditioning test, morning lift and late practice was worth the investment as I see how wonderfully the program has blossomed. Lost games and bad practices were, and are, all part of the learning and growing process. I'm thankful that I have my college years to look back on as an example of what it takes to succeed, and that same foundation of expectation is what I impart to every student-athlete I mentor.
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Tiger Talks will be weekly posts from former players sharing their experience at Princeton. This week features Devona Allgood '12.
Â
Allgood was a three-time All-Ivy selection and was selected to the Ivy League All-Rookie Team as a freshman. She finished her time at Princeton with 1,177 points, grabbed 802 rebounds and swatted 138 shots in 115 career games. Allgood is the program's all-time leader in games played, is third in blocks, fourth in field goal percentage (.530), rebounds and seventh in rebounding average (6.97).
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Devona is currently a Civil Engineer for the Town of Huntersville in North Carolina. She is also the head coach for the middle school girls' basketball team at Lake Norman Charter. She volunteers additional time at local urban universities and high schools, aiming to open their minds to the world of opportunity that exists outside of their communities.
Â
Allgood's story goes like this…
Â
Growing up in North Carolina, the heart of ACC basketball, I never saw myself playing for an Ivy League university. As a matter of fact, when Coach Banghart, (then, the assistant coach at Dartmouth College), called me, I'm not sure I could've sounded less enthused about an Ivy League option. I entertained her call, however, as my mother warned me that "coaches move around." We hung up and I went back to my dreams of being the next ACC superstar.Â
Â
It wasn't until Coach Banghart's voice projected from a "Princeton University" caller ID a few weeks later, that I considered a basketball career in the Ivy League. What about Princeton changed my mind? It still wasn't ACC, they weren't mentioned among the best in women's basketball (yet), and it was way too far from home!Â
Â
Greatness - it was the existing greatness that surrounded the name, the potential for greatness within the program, and the desire for greatness expressed through Coach Banghart. I knew that Princeton had a reputation of producing exemplary results in the form of graduates and career opportunities, but surely an entity with such excellence would not want to limit their prominence to just a few areas. I felt the passion behind wanting to continue building a program worthy of the Princeton name and I felt honored that Coach Banghart believed I could help in getting it there. Â
Â
Any basketball player knows the life skills that this sport teaches you: discipline, commitment, character, teamwork and sacrifice, to name a few. However, not many programs can introduce you to the concept of vision. Vision isn't just what you see with your physical eyes, but it requires you to dig deeper and see things for what they are yet to be. Vision allows you to anticipate the backdoor pass, as well as the championship season. It allows you to see the manifestation of your commitment to success before you achieve it. It leaves no room for doubt or discouragement because you know that greatness attracts greatness; and when you put together a program full of players, coaches, trainers, and administration who understand and expect such greatness, the only result can be... greatness. Â
Â
I will forever be grateful for the opportunity given to me to be a part of the Princeton women's basketball program. Every conditioning test, morning lift and late practice was worth the investment as I see how wonderfully the program has blossomed. Lost games and bad practices were, and are, all part of the learning and growing process. I'm thankful that I have my college years to look back on as an example of what it takes to succeed, and that same foundation of expectation is what I impart to every student-athlete I mentor.
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