Franklin “Frankie” Allen ’71 has always been a groundbreaker, whether he was the lone Black student in a historically white classroom during integration or racking up school records as Roanoke College’s all-time leading scorer in basketball.
Now, Allen has blazed a trail to national recognition with his induction into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame, which celebrates the most outstanding coaches, players and contributors in small college basketball programs across the country. Established in 2015, the organization has recognized only a few dozen players in its hall of fame.
“It was truly an honor that I didn’t expect,” Allen said. “Sometimes you don’t get your flowers when you can still smell them, so for me to be able to get this recognition and to be able to feel the joy in the recognition means a lot. This is probably the most prestigious award I’ve ever won, and the fact that it came out of nowhere is a blessing from God.”