Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Potomac, MD (Future150) -- Maryland was absolutely packed with solid events this weekend, one of which being the Bullis Holiday Classic. Eight teams competed for a shot at the title on Sunday. Future150 was in the building on the final day in order to take in the consolation game and finals. Westtown (PA) squared off against the home team, Bullis (MD), in the third place game, while Benedictine (VA) and Genesis Academy (VA) went toe-to-toe in the title game. Here's who stood out and took their game to another level when it mattered most.
George Papagiannis, 2015 C, Westtown: Arguably the best long-term prospect seen at either event this weekend, Papagiannis has the type of skill set that doesn't come along often. He is absolutely massive at 7-foot-1, 280 pounds. Despite being so large, he runs the floor better than most would expect. He has good hands and fantastic footwork. When he catches the ball in the post it is hard to stop him from scoring and he understands when to pass out of a double team. He rebounds the ball exceptionally well and has shown some shot blocking ability too. Simply put he is the total package.
Marquez Letcher-Ellis, 2015 SF, Genesis Academy: He is a pogo-stick athlete who played hard and was all over the floor because of it. He had 14 points and 11 boards at halftime alone. His versatility makes him an intriguing prospect and he has a lot of potential. He will be one to track over the next 18 months; he is a high-major athlete with a burgeoning skill set, making him an interesting target for colleges.
Robert Johnson, 2014 CG, Benedictine: Widely considered as one of the better shooters in the class of 2014, he bounced back from a sub-par first half to lead his team to the championship. When he has space he is a deadly shooter. In addition he is a great on-ball defender and can run the point at times. He will fit well at Indiana and could benefit greatly from playing with Yogi Ferrell, should he stay at Indiana after this season.
Jamal Wright, 2016 CG, Bullis: He is a bit undersized to play shooting guard but with him only being a sophomore he has time to grow. He shot the ball well from behind the arc and he is a tenacious defender. At times he was a bit out of control and committed silly fouls, which is common with younger players. That being said he is another one to keep an eye on and could step into a larger role next season when a majority of Bullis' squad graduates.
Jared Nickens, 2014 SF, Westtown: Another one of the better shooters in 2014, Nickens gave Maryland fans a sneak peak of what they can look forward to next season. He is a knockdown shooter with NBA range. He has also expanded his game off the bounce in the past year, although he still has work to do in order to be capable of creating his own shot. That being said he will pair nicely with classmate Melo Trimble.
Josh Hall, 2016 CG, Genesis Academy: Hall is an intriguing prospect in the sense that he is a play-maker at 6-foot-6. He is surprisingly quick and is a silky-smooth athlete. While it remains to be seen if he can play point guard full time, the idea of him doing so is tantalizing. He has great vision and is efficient with his shot selection. He is the kind of player that is a nightmare to match up with due to his size and play-making ability. Look for him to continue to turn heads on the AAU circuit this spring/summer.
Josh Bailey, 2014 SG, Benedictine: Johnson may be considered the best shooter on his team but Bailey isn't too far behind. He has great range and gets good elevation on his shots. He also moves well without the ball. At 6-foot-1 he doesn't have the size to play at a major program but would bring a smaller program value as someone who can really stretch the floor, or as a zone breaker. Look for low-majors to start recruiting him heading into the spring signing period.
Andre Walker, 2014 PF, Bullis: The Hofstra commit has potential and is incredibly mobile for a 6-foot-11 player. He can hit shots from the high post and has good timing on the defensive end. He may need a year or two before he contributes at the college level though. He is rail thin and needs to learn how to play with any sort of a motor. That being said, the Pride could look incredibly smart if they can get Walker to reach even half of his potential.
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