Portsmouth Invitational 2012: 3 Players with NBA Dreams Hinging on Tournament
The next week is going to have a bigger impact on the future of dozens of seniors much more so than what they did in March.
With the pre-NBA draft festivities now in full swing, the Portsmouth Invitational is a chance for seniors to show off their talents against peers with a plethora of scouts, general managers and representatives on hand to watch up-close.
For the following three players, this is what is going to either keep them on the radar for a potential second-round pick or seal their fate of playing overseas.
Kyle O’Quinn, C: Norfolk State
At 6’10’’, 240 pounds, his measurements instantly jump off the page for scouts, as do his 15.9 ppg and 10.3 rpg averages.
Problem is, can he do it against the best players in the world?
Sure, he was the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player of the year, but how do you explain O’Quinn’s 1-of-9 performance against Florida in the tournament?
This is O’Quinn’s chance to show scouts he can dominate other senior big men on a consistent basis over the next week.
Kyle Fogg, G: Arizona
The 6’3’’, 190-pound shooting guard was rather average in college, averaging 13.5 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 41 percent.
Yet he flashes the sort of brilliance on defense that makes you believe there is room for him in the NBA, a la Tony Allen.
He has terrific lateral quickness, takes the right angles to cut off a dribbler and executes maximum effort on that side of the floor. If he can show off these talents this week, I have a feeling a soft defense will take a flyer on him.
Kyle Kuric, G: Louisville
The leader of a squad that reached the Final Four last month, but now, Kuric is in charge of showing scouts he’s more than just a spot-up three-point shooter.
His ability to create his own shot off the dribble can lead him to a Kyle Korver-like NBA career, and it starts this week.
Kuric has to have a big week to ensure he won’t be launching threes in Greece next season.
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