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Key 7-foot-1 Greek prospect to pursue pro career, opts against playing college ball

Panathinaikos Athens 2014/2015 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball Media Day

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EB via Getty Images

Greek center Georgios Papagiannis will remain in Greece to pursue a professional career, a source told NBCSports.com.

The 7-foot-1 center was considering playing college ball stateside. He was being recruited by N.C. State, St. John’s, Kentucky and Oregon, the latter of whom had a fellow member of the Class of 2015 -- guard Tyler Dorsey -- playing on the same U19 team at the World Championships last month.

Papagiannis played one season of high school basketball in Pennsylvania, finding himself ranked in or around the top 50 by many outlets, but opted to return to Greece after the 2012-13 season to play for Panathinaikos, one of the best club teams in his home country. He would have been a critical piece for St. John’s, N.C. State and Oregon while providing the Wildcats with some much-needed depth up front.

The news was first reported by Scout.com.