NEW YORK — Markelle Fultz is off the board to Washington.
The 6-foot-4 guard out of Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha Catholic chose the Huskies Friday night on ESPNU over Louisville and Arizona. Kentucky also offered and he told SNY.tv before his announcement he was still considering a visit to that school.
Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar and assistant Raphael Chillious courted Fultz across two years and his recent visit to campus made quite an impression.
“It was a good visit,” he said earlier Friday at practice for the Under Armour Elite 24 Game. “Just going there and experiencing Washington. I’ve never been to Seattle, so that was good. The coaching staff there I have a good relationship with them so it was good to go there and see how the players are and how the atmosphere is.”
The No. 4 combo guard in the Class of 2016 according to 247Sports.com, Fultz was the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Player of the Year as a junior after playing JV as a sophomore.
Fultz wants to play the point in college.
“Hopefully, I’ll be a versatile one that can play the two or the three,” he previously told SNY.tv. “I’m transitioning myself into being a one right now.”
One college coach involved in Fultz’s recruitment said he believes he could be “special” as a point guard.
“I think he’s a points guard (as opposed to a point guard),” longtime New York recruiting expert Tom Konchalski told SNY.tv. “He covers the court like a blanket. He has great, great movement. He has the stride of Mercury. He’s an all-court player. He’s gotta become a little more consistent 3-point shooter but he’s a terrific scorer. He scores in manifold ways. He’s a fullcourt player and he really covers the court. I think he’s gonna be terrific, I think he’s gonna be a pro.”
Fultz is projected as the No. 5 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
Photo: Kelly Kline / Under Armour