College Hoopsters Vie for Professional Opportunities at the 2014 PIT

Draft Express

By Wayne Otto

College Basketball Columnist
College Sports Journal

PORTSMOUTH, VA – In most areas of the country spring is getting ready bloom, the NCAA basketball tournament is in the books, the NBA Playoffs are upon us and Portsmouth is the epicenter of the basketball universe for the week.

That means the 62nd annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is here and has a huge congregation of NBA GM’s, scouts, assistant coaches, European and Asian pro league personnel along with several hundred players agents and basketball scouting services.

The PIT is an annual rite of passage for 64 of the top college seniors in the country in their quest to get to the professional basketball ranks. Players such as John Stockton, Rick Barry, Dennis Rodman and others have showcased their talents over the years at the PIT.

There has been eight players from the 2013 PIT that have been on NBA rosters this season including Devin Booker, Ian Clark and Brandon Davies. Most of the other 56 players from last year are either playing professionally overseas or are applying their trade in the NBA D League, all with a chance to develop into future NBA players.

The beauty of the PIT is that it is pure basketball talent and skill that is showcased. It doesn’t matter where the player played in college. There are are invitees from NCAA Division I (high majors, mid majors) NCAA Division II and NAIA participants. The pro basketball scouts don’t care where you came from, just where you are headed in your basketball career.

The 2014 PIT drew a high level of potential professional basketball talent. “Every professional basketball team is always looking for new talent. “ said PIT media relations director Cliff Sayles. “That’s why the PIT is still such an important event on the basketball schedule. Even with the NBA early entrants into the draft, every NBA team sends a team of scouts to this event.”

The players at this PIT cover every avenue of collegiate basketball. Niels Giffey of National Champion Connecticut is here playing for a professional job, down to Division II Central Washington’s Mark McLaughlin and everywhere in between.

Oakland University’s Travis Bader, who is the most prolific 3 point shooter in NCAA DI history is turning heads this week with his performance. Andre Dawkins from Duke is getting a lot of attention as well. Not so well known players like North Dakota State’s Taylor Braun is moving up as well. He engineered the Bison NCAA tournament win over Oklahoma.

Virginia’s Akil Mitchell has had a great PIT according to James Blackburn of Basketball Elite. “Mitchell has played himself onto an NBA roster with his solid play on both ends of the court this week. He has proved that he has the ability to score the ball in the post one on one and he has been able to defend multiple positions as well.”

“Professional careers are made and or broken in Portsmouth. The tournament committee scouts players all season and with the NBA’s input, we select the 64 players for the event.” stated Mike Morris, vice chairman of the PIT. “We try to get the best available players that have pro potential.”

De’Mon Brooks (Davidson), Josh Davis (San Diego State), Jamil Wilson (Marquette) Markel Starks (Georgetown), James Bell (Villanova), joe jackson (Memphis), Juvonte Reddic (VCU), Shawn Glover (Oral Roberts), Eric Atkins (Notre Dame), Langston Hall (Mercer), Jordair Jett (Saint Louis) and Fuquan Edwin (Setan Hall) are among the NBA hopefuls proving that they can make the pro transition.

The path to professional basketball is a long and winding road for most players and that process starts with annual PIT.