Portsmouth Invitational Tournament – Day One
PORTSMOUTH, Va. – The 54th edition of the P.I.T. (Portsmouth Invitational Tournament) kicked off with two first night games that were highlighted by an energized performance by several of the players. Typically thought of as a guard-driven camp, the first game displayed outstanding interior play from the big men.
“Bigs” are usually expected to get rebounds and score via put-backs, but things appeared to be a bit different in the first game, which saw Louisiana Lafayette’s Michael Southall put on a display of interior power. While the stat sheet revealed “only” 4 blocks, it’s quite possible that he may have actually had the 7 that I counted. His intensity, energy level and consistency indicated that he’s a player to be watched more closely as the games play on. Southall netted 10 boards while giving an excellent representation of himself. Hometown and George Mason star Jai Lewis contributed 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Pitt’s Carl Krauser added 11 points and 12 assists. Wichita State’s Paul Miller dropped 19 points as Naval Shipyard topped Tidewater Sealants 84-75.
The nightcap contrasted with high-level guard play as Keydren Clark of St. Peter’s led all day one scorers with 22 points, 10 of which came from the free-throw line. Clark added 6 assists while teammate Dwayne Mitchell scored 15 points, nearly all of which came via athletic moves to the basket. Charlotte’s Curtis Withers snared 6 offensive rebounds to give a great accounting of his efforts as Portsmouth Sports Club toppled Beach Barton Ford 87-80.
Beach Barton was led by Northeastern’s flashy point guard Jose Juan Barea, who scored 19 points while dishing out 11 assists. Maryland’s Travis Garrison added 12 points and 10 boards while teammate Kenny Adeleke of Hartford delivered 15 points and 10 rebounds as Barea, Garrison and Barea all had double-doubles in the loss.
Around the Gym
- It’s always interesting to see which coaches come out to support their players right after being at the Final Four. In the first day’s slim pickings, Keydren Clark’s head coach Bob Leckie and the athletic director Bill Stein both came out to cheer on Clark. It may be the first time both an A.D. and head coach attended camp on behalf of a player. Dawan Robinson was supported by the presence of Rhode Island head coach Jim Baron. Back in the 90’s, Baron was a regular here as his St. Bonaventure team seemed to produce Portsmouth players every year. With three games on tap Thursday, many more coaches are expected to drop in.
- Spent some time after the games with San Diego’s Nick Lewis, the 6-10 player added late to the PIT. Some players come here thinking NBA lottery while some show up without a clue. This kid gets it – well grounded and realistic about his future. The double-degree big man from the left coast has the skills and roundball intelligence to make some waves. We’ll keep our eye on him and report back.
From the Sidelines
- Rumors continue to swirl regarding both coaching vacancies and early entry candidates for the draft. Some expect word on the highest prospects from LSU, Florida and Connecticut to start leaking out later this week.
- Chief gossip concerns the North Carolina State job, long considered a no-win position. The Wolfpack, who play in an excellent facility, are dropped along Tobacco Road in between Duke and North Carolina. With no titles to show while their rivals seemingly cash in all-too-frequently, the school will be under pressure to hit a home run with the hiring. Truth is, Herb Sendek did an exceptional job keeping the team competitive and getting into the dance with regularity. But this is ACC country and for the Pack, going dancing is simply not enough. Watch this drama unfold in the near future.
- Important to the Portsmouth locals is the pursuit of George Mason’s head man Jim Larranaga by Seton Hall University. The Hall were rumored to have met privately a few weeks ago before the Patriots found slippers and went dancing long into the night. Now with the magical run over, the full-court press will begin in earnest for the now red hot head coach. Many thought Larranaga might be ticketed for Providence down the road as the former Friar would agree to coach his alma mater after the Tim Welsh era ended.
- Manhattan’s Bobby Gonzalez appears ticketed somewhere as he was reported to have had two excellent interviews at Seton Hall and Temple. Gonzo would be the perfect fit for the Hall – he’s local, flashy enough to keep fans, alum and the media paying attention, and has a proven success record in recruiting. What the Hall will do remains the Metro New York mystery of the moment.
- Private workouts have arrived at Portsmouth as a Chicago-based sports representative Michael Naidich is running what is believed to be the first ever at the Port City.
AfterWords
- Personally, I’m into this camp every spring in a big way. Leaving the usually chilly northeast behind, the blooming flowers and warm air of Virginia are a welcome sign that better weather lies ahead.
- The camp itself is a fundraiser for Portsmouth and the citizens come out in force to volunteer their time. For a New York guy it’s refreshing to learn about southern hospitality first-hand. This camp is #13 for me, putting me near the head of the seniority list along with Chris Monter, a Minnesota-based draft expert who’s been doing this longer than anyone else. But it’s hard to avoid the annual refresh of basketball hopes and opportunities. Each year a player or two will emerge as intriguing enough to warrant both an invitation to the NBA-sponsored June Pre-Draft Camp as well as private workouts for teams. Who becomes this year’s PIT darling(s) has yet to be decided.
- Let the games continue!
