Portsmouth Invitational 2012: Kyle O'Quinn Proves His NBA Merit

Kyle O'Quinn will be a solid bench player in the NBA. The 6'10" center from Norfolk State proved this beyond a doubt with his solid showing in the Portsmouth Invitational. 

The Invitational is a chance for the nation's top college seniors to show off for scouts from the NBA, overseas and anyone else looking for players to pay. 

O'Quinn owned that spotlight. Despite the fact that his team lost the championship game, O'Quinn was able to win the MVP award. 

He had eight points, 12 rebounds and six blocks in that game. The eight points was well below his season average of 15.9 points per game and it was even further below the 26 points he put up against Missouri as his Spartans upset them in the first round.

But it was not his scoring that was going to impress scouts. It was the other parts of his game and this was the kind of all-around performance that will make him valuable to NBA teams. 

Against the bigger and quicker defenders in the NBA, O'Quinn is going to have a hard time scoring buckets. If he is going to make it in the NBA, he is going to have to do it on the strength of his potential to fill a role and play defense.

He showed everyone those skills will translate. Against high-quality, professional-caliber players, O'Quinn was able to dominate the low post defensively. 

His timing and instincts more than make up for his lack of elite athleticism. O'Quinn is a big man that will be able to rebound, block the occasional shot and just generally make life difficult for whoever he is guarding. 

There is always room in the rotation for a player like that.