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College players who want to display their talent in front of full stands of NBA scouts and European team scouts are playing in the PIT
There's not much for the average MVC fan - but here's a few items of interest
The first 2 games are in the books
-Game 1, Iowa State's Naz Mitrou-Long was a stud (25 pts/4 asst) but past BU recruit Jared Brownridge struggled (2 pt/3 asst)
Another former BU recruit, SMU's Sterling Brown had 8 pts/10 reb/4 asst, while Illini Malcolm Hill had 9 pts/4 asst
-Game 2, ISU's Paris Lee started, went 3-8, had 7 pts, 3 rebs, only 1 asst with 3 TO, while Marcus Marshall (ex-Missouri State pg) had 11 pts, 2 asst, 3 TO
Maybe playing at the Portsmouth Invitational won't change every kid's chances but...
there is one WELL KNOWN story close to home where it made an enormous difference!
A juco-transfer kid from Marquette in 2011 named Jimmy Butler - who wasn't even projected to be drafted...and was likely looking at a possible shot at playing overseas....
BUT - Butler had an outstanding week at the PIT, turned heads and got them talking - and was named the Tournament's MVP
His performance quickly moved his name into the NBA Draft picture and the Bulls grabbed in at the end of the 1st round with the 30th pick! Now he's an All-Star and his jersey is one of the NBA's top sellers.
There's not much for the average MVC fan - but here's a few items of interest
The first 2 games are in the books
-Game 1, Iowa State's Naz Mitrou-Long was a stud (25 pts/4 asst) but past BU recruit Jared Brownridge struggled (2 pt/3 asst)
Another former BU recruit, SMU's Sterling Brown had 8 pts/10 reb/4 asst, while Illini Malcolm Hill had 9 pts/4 asst
-Game 2, ISU's Paris Lee started, went 3-8, had 7 pts, 3 rebs, only 1 asst with 3 TO, while Marcus Marshall (ex-Missouri State pg) had 11 pts, 2 asst, 3 TO
Maybe playing at the Portsmouth Invitational won't change every kid's chances but...
there is one WELL KNOWN story close to home where it made an enormous difference!
A juco-transfer kid from Marquette in 2011 named Jimmy Butler - who wasn't even projected to be drafted...and was likely looking at a possible shot at playing overseas....
BUT - Butler had an outstanding week at the PIT, turned heads and got them talking - and was named the Tournament's MVP
His performance quickly moved his name into the NBA Draft picture and the Bulls grabbed in at the end of the 1st round with the 30th pick! Now he's an All-Star and his jersey is one of the NBA's top sellers.
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