Utah State PG Drake Allen inks Exhibit 10 deal with Detroit Pistons
Jun 25, 2026, 11:36 AM | Updated: 12:16 pm
LOGAN, Utah – Former Utah State point guard Drake Allen will get his NBA opportunity after signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Detroit Pistons.
It took four college programs and one long climb through Utah, but Allen now has an NBA door open.
The deal clears a path for the Eagle Mountain, Utah, native to participate in the 2026 NBA Summer League with the Pistons, with a chance to earn a training camp invite. The Las Vegas Summer League will be held July 9-19.
𝘿𝙍𝘼𝙆𝙀 ➡️ 𝘿𝙀𝙏𝙍𝙊𝙄𝙏
Congrats to Drake Allen on signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the @DetroitPistons!#ShowMe pic.twitter.com/wgzExatXUk
— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) June 25, 2026
Allen’s opportunity with Detroit is the next step in one of the more winding careers for a Utah guard in recent memory. From Westlake High to Snow College, Southern Utah, Utah Valley, and finally Utah State, the 6-foot-5 point guard built his case the long way — by winning, defending, and proving at every stop that his game could translate to a higher level.
His calm as a floor general, paired with his willingness to gamble defensively, could translate well to the often-frenetic pace of Summer League.
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Who is Drake Allen?
Nothing about Allen’s path to USU was linear for the former Westlake High School standout.
His college career began at Snow College in 2020, where he quickly became more than just a junior college guard trying to find his footing.
As a sophomore, Allen helped lead the Badgers to their first NJCAA National Tournament appearance in more than 50 years.
He averaged 12.8 points, six assists, and 2.2 steals while starting all 34 games, earning NJCAA second-team All-America recognition as Snow finished 26-8.
It was the first major sign that Allen could run a team and impact winning on both ends.
Drake Allen is a real sneaky one to look out for. Super defensive disrupter as a 6’5″ PG. Straight-line slashing w/ above the rim finishing and willing passer w/ solid AST/USG – probably has to play simple but could have a role. Might just make him a long-term option. https://t.co/Rbhwslbat3
— Prophe(s)y. | (@Prophesy_Scout) June 25, 2026
Allen transferred to Southern Utah for his sophomore season and immediately proved his game could translate to the Division I level.
The 6-foot-5 guard started 37 games, averaged 11.0 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals, and earned WAC All-Newcomer honors.
His next stop was Utah Valley University, where he continued to build his reputation as a steady, productive lead guard.
He started 27 of 30 games for the Wolverines, averaging 11.9 points, 4.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in nearly 30 minutes per game.
It’s so aesthetically pleasing watching the 3 SDSU defenders jump at the exact same time
Nice shot fake and kick from Drake Allen
My guy Elamin knocks it down from the corner pic.twitter.com/7L8JC5sR7H
— Christian Odjakjian (@OdjHoops) February 1, 2026
His final college stop brought him to Logan, where he found a home as a key piece of Utah State’s backcourt.
By the time he reached Logan, he had already played almost every role a college guard can play. This experience allowed the Aggies to dispatch Allen in various ways, depending on the best approach to their current opponent.
He finished his college career as a critical part of one of Utah State’s most successful two-year runs in program history. It was there that his sneaky athleticism and unconventional path gelled into an Aggie fan favorite.
Allen was the starting point guard and an emotional leader for teams that went 55-10 during his time in Logan.
In 66 games, including 45 starts, Allen filled the box score without needing to dominate the ball. He averaged 7.5 points on efficient shooting, dished out more than four assists, and harassed opponents into 1.6 steals a night.
New dad Drake Allen catches a body for @USUBasketball 😱🫢💪🐂pic.twitter.com/Yj0wQ4dZFX
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 1, 2026
He earned All-Mountain West honorable mention as a graduate senior and was named to the MW All-Tournament Team, closing his college career as a proven winner, experienced organizer, and disruptive defender.
Those traits now give him a chance to carve out a role with Detroit.
Summer League will test whether Allen’s game can hold up against NBA length, speed, and spacing, but the foundation is clear.
He has size at the point of attack, a long history of defensive production, and a résumé built less on flash than on helping good teams win.
What is an Exhibit 10 contract?
Exhibit 10 contract came into existence with the 2017 collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players. They may only be used for one-year, non-guaranteed contracts that include the NBA minimum salary.
They can be a useful tool for building a Summer League and G-League roster.
Exhibit 10 contracts do not include bonuses unless a player is waived, then signs in the G-League and spends at least 60 days.
If an Exhibit 10 deal is converted to a two-way contract, bonus money becomes guaranteed.
NBA teams are limited to six active Exhibit 10 contracts at any given time.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
