Bellarmine Prep point guard Malachi Flynn commits to Pacific
Bellarmine Prep senior Malachi Flynn has committed to play basketball at the University of Pacific.
The Lions’ point guard was one of the area’s most dynamic scorers, averaging a little more than 24 points per game last season.
He said he chose Pacific, located in Stockton, California, over Montana State and UC Davis.
“I felt it could be another family away from home,” Flynn said. “They treated me really well and they want me to play immediately as a freshman. And I feel they are in a good league (West Coast Conference) that I can have success in.”
Blessed to announce I will be a Tiger at the university of Pacific next year thanks to God, my coaches and my family.
— Malachi Flynn (@malachi_flynn3) September 22, 2015
He led the Lions to within a game of the regional round of the 4A state basketball tournament last season, but Bellarmine Prep (15-10) lost to Timberline, 62-61, in a winner-to-state, loser-out game in the West/Central District Tournament.
Flynn scored a season-high 41 points against Jesuit (of California) on Dec. 27 in the Leo LaRocca Sand Dune Classic in San Francisco. He scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games late in the season on his way to earning first-team all-4A Narrows League honors and The News Tribune’s second-team All-Area.
“He’s a very intelligent player,” said Bellarmine Prep boys basketball coach Bernie Salazar, who was quick to mention Flynn’s dedication to the classroom as well as the gym. “He’s gifted and talented, but he works very hard on his game. But what stands out most is his intelligence. He makes very good decisions most of the time.”
Flynn is the second Bellarmine Prep boys basketball player in three years to commit to a WCC school. (Luke Meikle committed to Gonzaga, though he transferred after his freshman season to Cal Poly.)
Flynn has played AAU basketball for Team ACCESS of Tacoma in the offseason and said he’s developed his game with trainer Mark “Jingles” Caesar. Salazar said Flynn has grown to “a legitimate” 6-foot-1.
“I’ve been working on my handles, and just trying to get my feet quicker and improving everything else — the jumper, feel for the game and coming off pick and rolls,” Flynn said.
Bellarmine Prep finished fourth in the 4A Narrows League standings last season.
t.cotterill@thenewstribune.com
This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 12:58 PM with the headline "Bellarmine Prep point guard Malachi Flynn commits to Pacific."