Portsmouth Invitational Tournament – Day Three
Day three began with spirited play as Sales System was bested in overtime 86-80 by Norfolk Sports Club. Duke’s Sean Dockery played the role of team leader as he dished out several more than the six assists he was credited with and tallied 16 points. PIT teammate and fellow ACC alum Cameron Bennerman (North Carolina State) added 19, while Harding Nana chipped in with 12 points, 6 boards and 3 blocks.
Sales System was paced by Daniel Horton’s 18 points. Horton collected 6 dimes but also turned it over 5 times, including once in the final minutes which led to the game tying basket.
The first semifinal contest saw Kee Kee Clark drop in 20 points to lead Portsmouth Sports Club into the finals with a 74-71 win over Naval Shipyard. South Florida’s Solomon Jones chipped in with a 12-point, 13-rebound effort, while Pacific’s Christian Maraker added 15 points and 7 boards.
Naval Shipyard was led by Pitt’s Carl Krauser and Robert Hite of Miami, who both scored 14 points, and VCU’s Nick George with 13.
All five starters hit for double figures as Holiday Inn rolled into the final against Portsmouth Sports Club with an 82-78 win over MD Design. Tennessee’s C.J. Watson led his team with 15 points including 3-3 from long distance, and Valparaiso’s Dan Oppland and Vincent Grier of Minnesota added 14 apiece.
MD was led by George Mason star Tony Skinn’s 17 points, while Kelly Whitney of Seton Hall contributed 14.
Around the Gym
The gym cleared out somewhat during Day three as NBA types left for Memphis and the Nike Hoop Summit, which features international players, several who will one day no doubt occupy draft day decision making. Many of the media headed to nearby Hampton Roads for the Boo Williams AAU Tournament: a stop several college coaches used to make as well. (The tournament is no longer live for Division I coaches.) Seton Hall’s recently fired head coach Louis Orr was in the gym, however, in support of Kelly Whitney. Orr, also a former NBA star and Syracuse legend, spent a great deal of time glad-handing with NBA friends in between the action.
From the Sidelines
With teams having played two games, some trends are becoming clear.
- Kee Kee Clark can score. Games of 20 and 22 points confirm what was already evident. That he scored it against supposedly better competition than in the MAAC Conference is the telling sign. Whether the NBA teams can get past his size is another matter altogether.
- Sean Dockery plays with more composure than any other PG here. His ability to run an offense has caused him to stand out in the crowd of point guards.
- C.J. Watson is a better player than most thought. He can shoot it short or long, defends well, passes the ball and is amazingly efficient.
- Wyoming’s Justin Williams is a legit pro prospect. Like his Cowboy predecessor Theo Ratliff, he leaves college with a rep as a rebounding shot-blocker. The upside to his game is expansive and he has a bright future, although much work needs to be done.
- Ditto Mohamed Kone, Yemi Nicholson, Akin Akingbala, and Michael Southall who all show moments of NBA ability and will need a nurturing environment to develop ability into reality.
- Solomon Jones may be the most intriguing player in camp. There always seems to be one guy whose game seemingly finds new life once he’s out of a program which apparently stifled his game. Jones may be just that player. Abundantly skilled, while thin as a rail, he shows flashes of NBA ability. Cat-like quick and efficient at both ends of the floor, Jones may be headed for the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp and once there, who knows what could happen.
AfterWords
- The word that Maggie Dixon: the fine first year Army Women’s head coach had passed away cast a pale amongst the insiders here. Her brother, Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon was en route here in support of his player Carl Krauser and apparently got word that his sister had taken ill when he got off the plane. Maggie Dixon had led Army to its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance and in 6 months had transformed the program into something special at the Academy. The cause of death is being listed as an enlarged heart and more will be learned after an autopsy is completed.
- On tap today is the consolation bracket finals in the afternoon, followed by the tourney consolation match and finally the championship game.
Let the games conclude!
