The 2024–25 campaign has been an up-and-down one for the Taylorsville boys basketball team. The Warriors have had some struggles amid some nice victories. Now that the team is into region play, playoff positioning is heating up. 

Leading the way for the Warriors is senior guard/forward Kobe Allen. 

Allen is pacing the team in scoring this season, averaging nearly 20 points a contest. He’s also second in rebounding with a 5.7 average and first in assists, dishing out 5.3 a game. Through the team’s first 15 games, Allen had scored in double figures each time. His season high up to this point was 30 against Hunter on Jan. 14. He also had 28 points Dec. 12 against Ben Lomond. 

An all-around performer, it’s not unusual to see Allen flirt with the rare triple-double. Against Hunter, he had seven rebounds and nine assists in addition to his 30 points. Against Kearns on Jan. 18, he had 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. At home against Granger on Jan. 3, Allen filled the stat sheet with 25 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. He had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists against Skyline on Dec. 22.  

His numbers shouldn’t be surprising. As a junior, Allen was second on the team with 16.1 points a game and first in assists with 4.5 a contest. Two seasons ago, as a sophomore, Allen averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds a game. He got some time as a freshman, scoring 2.7 points a game. 

With his father as his inspiration, Allen has basketball in his blood. 

“I have been playing for as long as I can remember,” Allen said. “My dad played basketball, and I would always go to his games and watch him. He inspired me to play. My dad played basketball at Taylorsville, so I was excited to play here also and follow in his footsteps.”

Like many great athletes, Allen loves the competitive aspect of playing high school sports. For him, basketball gives him a chance to do something he loves. He also enjoys spending time with his teammates, who have become good friends. 

“I enjoy the grind of it all,” he said. “I love playing team sports, hanging out with my friends, working hard and watching my team succeed.”

This past fall, Allen was the leading receiver on the football team. He had 45 catches for 476 yards and four touchdowns for the Warriors. That athletic ability has helped him on the basketball court where he is a floor general, directing the team’s offense. Allen has the ball in his hands a lot, so he has to deal with a lot of pressure. He has demonstrated poise, and been a reliable leader. 

“As the point guard, I have to be a leader, facilitate plays and score,” Allen said. “I always try to be a good teammate on and off the court.”

Even though Taylorsville hasn’t always piled up a lot of wins in the standings, Allen said the team enjoys good unity and a strong bond. Allen appreciates what head coach Bernie Graziano, a longtime coach in Utah, has taught him. 

“Coach Graz has always believed in me,” Allen said. “He has been a great coach and mentor. Our team is very tight knit and close. We are always cheering each other on and want every player to have success.”

In his final season at Taylorsville, Allen has some big goals he wants to accomplish. Coming into the season, he wanted to end his career with more than 1,000 total points, and he’s on track to achieve that mark. He wants to be the all-time leading scorer in the program’s history and wants to set the record for career assists. 

Other than those goals, most of what Allen will remember is who played with him. He reflects fondly on the experiences he has had with teammates, the highs of wins and lows of losses with one another. 

“My freshman year, my older brother was a senior,” Allen said. “It was awesome being able to start and play with him. I have played with some awesome guys and have made some great memories. Each season, we go to team camp in the summer. Summer camp has always been a great way to bond as a team.”

Allen doesn’t want his basketball career to end once he graduates from Taylorsville. He intends to continue his education in college and play at the next level. 

As for the Warriors, they were 4-11 through the first 15 games and 2-2 in Region 4.

Along with Allen, Logan Bertagnolli has been an offensive go-to player. The senior center is averaging 13.3 points and 8.2 rebounds a game. Juan Castellano and Chatlin Mills have also been solid contributors, as has Tyler Johnson. λ