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Alonso star McAllister follows mom's dream, commits to FSU

By Keith Niebuhr, Times Staff Writer
In print: Tuesday, July 22, 2008

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TAMPA — Katina Daniels, a basketball standout at Robinson, was headed to Florida State for college. Not only had she been accepted, but she was set to receive an athletic scholarship.

But before Daniels could leave, something happened.

"She got pregnant with me," said Daniels' son, Demonte McAllister.

Daniels, who today works in accounting, never made it to Florida State. But 18 years later, McAllister, a senior-to-be at Alonso, just might.

On Saturday, after spending the entire week in Tallahassee to participate in two separate camps, the star defensive tackle committed to the Seminoles.

"It was my longest trip (to Tallahassee)," McAllister said. "It kept getting better each day."

So is the recruiting game over?

Maybe. Maybe not.

McAllister, a self-described lifelong Florida State fan, said he is a "soft" commitment. Though he said he is "70 percent" sure he will play for the Seminoles, he still plans to take his full allotment of official visits in the fall.

"I still want to take all five," McAllister said.

Who will get visits?

McAllister (6 feet 3, 263 pounds) said Monday that as of now, he will make official trips (those paid for by the university) to Georgia, Florida State, LSU, Miami and Southern California, all of which have offered him a scholarship. The trip to Los Angeles is the one he's looking most forward to taking.

The question is, could someone snatch him away from the Seminoles?

"There's still a chance," McAllister said. "I think they're going to recruit me harder now."

That may not be enough.

Tallahassee felt like home, McAllister said. He meshed so well with everyone up there, that's largely why he committed.

"It's because of the people," McAllister said. "The coaching staff, the players … everybody up there has character. It's a beautiful place."

McAllister isn't the only FSU fan in the family.

So is his mother.

"My mom had a dream about me going there," McAllister said. "I think it was about two years ago. She said, 'I had a dream about you committing to FSU.' She was praying about it, and it happened."