Ted Cruz admits he is Grayson Allen in bout with Deadspin

Jan. 25 (UPI) -- It might not be the best year to get mistaken for Grayson Allen.

The Duke forward has been surrounded by suspect skirmishes all season long for the Blue Devils. But Texas senator and former Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz is embracing his uncanny resemblance to the All-American.

On Monday, Deadspin posted an article titled: "Send us proof of Ted Cruz playing basketball." Politico ran an article that same day saying that Cruz "started a weekly basketball game in the Russell Building, for example, and has been urging colleagues to attend." The article also said that Cruz is a "surprisingly good jump-shooter" but has bad form.

Cruz responded to Deadspin's tweet of the request by asking "what do I win?," with a picture of Allen attached.

During Cruz's campaign, he talked to CNN's Betsy Klein, denying his identity as Allen.

"I don't have nearly the hops to be him," Allen told Klein, via Vaughn Hillyard of NBC News. "I will say I wish I did – that young man can fly. The video of him winning the slam-dunk championship in high school – that is crazy how he can jump. I'm proud of my six-inch vertical. The only way I see the rim is standing on a ladder."

Deadspin did not take kindly to the Cruz joke, responding: "go eat [expletive]." Cruz responded with a video of Ron Burgundy saying: "Boy, that escalated quickly."

Cruz's tweet of Allen has more than 38,000 retweets and 94,000 likes.

Allen is expected to be selected in the 2017 NBA Draft after three stellar seasons with the Blue Devils. But his junior season has been clouded in controversy, after being caught in several tripping incidents. He is averaging 15.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game this season. The Blue Devils have lost three of its last four games, sliding down the college basketball rankings while playing without coach Mike Krzyzewski.