Allonzo Trier: Adversity is Nothing

As the play got physical and hard fouls were being dealt out at the OKHoops Elite game in Bixby, Allonzo Trier took the rough play in stride. Adversity on the court hasn’t been the issue for the top Oklahoma player in the class of 2015, it’s been the bumps in the road off of the court.

Back in Seattle a ritual was started, Marcy Trier would braid her young son’s hair. This was a ritual built in faith, Marcy Trier’s biblical faith that braiding young Allonzo’s hair would give her solace from an abusive relationship.  Like millions of women in America, Marcy Trier was in an abused by her spouse. Her escape from the abuse was her son Allonzo. Allonzo’s escape on the other hand was basketball.

“Zo” as he’s affectionately referred to, dealt with the stress of abuse by turning himself into a skilled basketball player at Seattle Boys and Girls Club. So skilled that he became renowned in the youth leagues and national camps as one of the best basketball players in his age group. Fast forward to 2010 where an opportunity to escape the abuse in Seattle came in the form of Fred Montgomery, Marcy Trier’s god brother. Montgomery moved from Seattle to Oklahoma with his wife, who works in the Thunder organization informed. After moving to Oklahoma, Montgomery got in touch with Gary Vick, Founder of Oklahoma’s only Nike sponsored AAU team Athletes First. Montgomery informed Vick about the young prodigy and the move to Oklahoma was made shortly after.
The move did not deter young Zo from his goals.

“I needed to continue to pursue my dreams of playing basketball and maintain good academics, which my mom and I believe family, basketball, and education come first.”

The focus on academics, family, and faith led the Trier family to a nontraditional route of home school education. With the guidance of Vick, Trier joined the OKC Storm Home School organization and dedicated all of his focus to intense academic tutoring and the introduction to his personal trainer and mentor Jonathan Bluitt, the former ORU and Bishop McGuinness standout.

As an eighth grader in early 2011 the savvy guard became a starter and leading scorer for the Storm high school team. Unfortunately it was short lived in Oklahoma. He was barred from playing against Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activity Association teams. The OSSAA cited a bi-law that restricts junior high students from playing in high school activities.

“It was extremely disappointing being held back from playing as an eighth grader because the team was successful. Fortunately I moved on from that.” The 6’3 wing reflected.
Fast forward to September 2012 after a transfer to Tulsa NOAH prior to his mother relocating to Tulsa, the National Home School Christian Championships ruled him ineligible from playing with his new team during the Homeschool National Championships in the spring of 2013.

“What happened with the denial from the Home School Association was hard because I loved Coach (Kurt) Talbott (OKC Storm head coach), Coach Bluitt, my teammates, and the whole Storm organization. I had an amazing experience winning three championships. I never wanted all the negative attention for something as simple as a move. I didn’t expect all the attention because I’m just a regular kid.”

The state of Oklahoma’s top prospect in the class of 2015 accomplished this summer something that wasn’t regular, but something impressive, amassing a clean sweep of scholarship offers from all the state division one programs, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tulsa, and Oral Roberts and other major programs like Missouri and Kansas are taking interest.

But recruiting isn’t the focus for the sophomore, winning is.

“Ultimately my goal is for Tulsa NOAH to win a National Championship. I love challenges and Coach Bluitt always tells me I play better when I’m challenged then when it’s easy. I also am looking to strengthen my academics by maintaining a B plus average and scoring successfully on my ACT test.”

Trier has seen a lot of recent success on the court, however, it always comes full circle back to Seattle.

”My mother always told me to believe in God and have Faith. I remember her telling me when I was seven to always have faith in God. She also instilled in me to never use drugs. She taught me that God cures all in my life. I think that makes me different from a lot of other kids because my beliefs keep me from the forces of peer pressure.”

Marcy Trier’s belief in her son as a good person has spilled into mentors Bluitt and Vick’s belief of him as a great player.

“I am grateful to people who believe in me because I face a lot of scrutiny on the court. Every game I play I have to live with it and I can’t have a bad game and laugh it off because someone will quickly remind me and even more I won’t forget it…”