Leo Papile has seen the future and he likes it.
"I have high hopes. This team is the focus group of the program right now. This group is a national contender and five of nine of these boys are only 15 years old," said Papile, referring to his Boston Amateur Basketball Club 16-and-under team that lived up to its billing by winning the Boston Shootout title yesterday, defeating the Granite State Jayhawks, 86-71.
The tournament, played at Boston University's Case Gym and featuring club teams from Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New York, has been hosted by Papile and BABC since 1999.
BABC immediately showed off its smothering quickness, and within the first few minutes it had built a double-digit lead. BABC, which forced 17 turnovers, remained fully in command in the first half and took a 48-29 lead into halftime. It would've been more if not for a half-court buzzer-beater by the Jayhawks.
BABC kept up its defensive pressure in the second half, including two huge blocks by Everett High School freshman Nerlens Noel in the early going. Noel finished with a game-high 12 rebounds and eight blocks.
Cushing Academy sophomore Egi Gjikondi provided 22 points and six rebounds, but it was his post presence that forced occasional triple teams and opened up the outside game, allowing BABC to shoot 60 percent from beyond the arc.
Granite State had defeated Albany (N.Y.), 77-76, in an earlier semifinal, while BABC had a bye after winning twice Saturday.
BABC will travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C., next month to play in the Big Shots Tournament.
