Flannigan asserting himself among NIC-10 elite

Armani Flannigan of Boylan blocks a shot from Hononegah’s Coop Lewis. Flannigan scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in defeat. (Photo by Matt Nestor)

By Matt Nestor
Sports Columnist

Senior Armani Flannigan has been a key component for several years for the Boylan Titans as they have racked up wins.

But while Flannigan has always been a contributor, he has been overshadowed by teammates all along the way.

Now, in his final season at Boylan, the 6-foot-7-inch forward has started to put it all together and has turned himself into one of the biggest forces in the NIC-10 this season.

“He’s improved a lot of areas in his game,” Boylan Head Coach Steve Goers said of Flannigan. “He’s got a lot more confidence.”

Last season, Flannigan was up and down for much of the season. While there would be stretches of good play, they could often be followed by stretches where the big man would disappear.

Despite his length, Flannigan does possess a wiry frame, which lends to him not necessarily dominating in the post like his height would suggest.

But he does possess good perimeter skills for his size and often relied on that in the past. This season, Flannigan has seemed to use a good balance of inside and outside game as well as use his length to crash the offensive boards for a lot of easy put-backs.

“He has a few things, like all players, that he needs to work on and improve on, but he’s on his way,” Goers said. “He needs to be disciplined enough and focus in on what he needs to do.”

And now, instead of deferring to teammates, Flannigan has become one of the go-to guys for the Titans. His size and skill have Boylan daring teams to try to stop him.

“The light has finally clicked,” Miller said of his teammate they call “Flash.” “He’s 6 feet, 7 inches, and there is nothing people can do with him.”

And as he continues to improve, he could hold the key for a deep Boylan postseason run. In what could be a wide-open sectional, Flannigan possesses size that not many teams can match, which will be good for the Titans.

“He’s established himself as an All-State player,” Goers said. “That’s what he is. I think he has a great future ahead of him.”