Portsmouth Invitational 2012: Less International Talent Opens Door for Seniors

The 2012 edition of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is more important for the players participating than in years past.

Why?

A year after a whopping 13 players from overseas were selected in the draft, right now NBADraft.net projects a grand total of one international player to be selected in the 60 picks this June. For whatever reason, the talent pool isn’t there this year and that opens up a ton of spots for seniors.

It’s no secret that in today’s landscape, all of the top players declare for the draft well before they have the chance to be a part of senior day. The guys that stay for all four years into today’s world do so because they aren’t guaranteed a spot in the first round. This year that patience is going to pay off.

There are going to be over a 100 pro and international scouts on hand to observe a very deep and talented group of seniors that all have NBA aspirations.

Right now nbadraft.net projects 25 of the 30 second-round picks to come from the senior class. Last year only 12 were plucked in the second 30 picks.

For guys like Mitchell Watt, this is outstanding news.

The 6’10’’, 225-pound power forward has been overshadowed his entire career while being saddled on a mediocre Buffalo team. Now he can solidify a spot in the bottom of the second round with a strong performance at Portsmouth. Last year he wouldn’t have had a shot of making an NBA roster, now he’s a shoe-in for a late selection with a strong performance this week.

Then there’s a guy like Yancy Gates.

Off the radar for the majority of his career, after playing brilliantly for the Cincinnati Bearcats in the NCAA tournament, he has vaulted up to second-round status. But if he’s able to keep up his strong rebounding and underrated back-to-the-basket game, there is a chance the forward vaults all the way up to the bottom of the first round. A large chunk of his draft future resides at the Portsmouth Invitational.

Because of this, the games are going to be incredible competitive and full of maximum effort. You didn’t always expect that in recent years.

But in a year when international stars are taking the year off, it’s the senior class that gets a chance to take full advantage this week in Virginia.

(Click here for full rosters.)

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