Allyson Dobbins has already had an impact on the court as Bowie State University’s all-time leading scorer in basketball, but the former Bulldog point guard continues to make her mark as she was enshrined in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Hall of Fame on February 24, 2023 during the 2023 CIAA Tournament in Baltimore.
Dobbins was part of an induction class that featured all women and included Jessica Hawkins (Shaw University), Elorine Hill (Fayetteville State University), Barbara Pierre (St. Augustine’s University) and the 1988 Hampton University women’s basketball team.
“It was unreal and really cool,” said Dobbins. “I’m still in shock that I’m a part of this group. Hearing the other ladies’ stories and talking to them over these last few days, it’s insane that I’m a part of this group.”
Dobbins was a four-year starter at Bowie State from 2001-2005 and leads both the men’s and women’s programs with 2,107 points with a career-average of 19.3 points per game. Dobbins was also a two-time CIAA Player of the Year (2003 & 2005), earned All-CIAA selection twice and was named to the All-CIAA Defensive Team three times. Dobbins was also honored as a Kodak Division II All-American in 2003, 2004 and 2005. She was inducted into the Bowie State Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Dobbins originally picked up basketball just following along with her older brother but didn’t start playing in an organized team setting until she was nine years old. Dobbins described herself as a very raw prospect when she first touched the court for Bowie State, but her passion for the game motivated her to commit to the process of strengthening her body so she could operate at full speed in all her games. Dobbins took pride in outworking her opponents during her career.
“I don’t think I was really that good my freshman year,” said Dobbins. “I think I was just so much faster than everybody. I just got to my mid-range spot and that was it. I played really hard. Working out became an obsession. I think that’s my game. Everything was all or nothing for me when I was out there.”
After graduation, Dobbins became just the second Division II player from an HBCU to play in a WNBA game. Dobbins played for the LA Sparks and Washington Mystics in the WNBA before traveling to Europe where she played professionally for 12 seasons. Currently, Dobbins is a coach with the Jr. Celtics, the youth basketball development program for the NBA’s Boston Celtics.
“It’s still surreal,” said Dobbins. “I think about being able to travel the world and being able to play with the best of the best. Now being in the Hall of Fame at Bowie State and the CIAA, it’s still a thank you God moment. All of this was because of this round basketball that put me in these positions.”