The 56th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament tipped off yesterday featuring the top 64 seniors trying to improve their stock in front of NBA scouts.
Othello Hunter started off on the right foot with 17 points (8/10 FG) and 13 rebounds last night before adding another 18 points (6/9 FG), 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in just 19 minutes in game two earlier today.
Meanwhile, Jamar Butler began play last night with a 9 point (3/10 FG), 3 assist, 0 turnover effort in 24 minutes.
Butler's next opportunity comes Friday night at 7pm. The tournament wraps up Saturday night. The complete schedule can be found here.
Draft Express offered praise for Butler's ability to run the offense but left Hunter out of their day one write up.
Good luck to both as they perform in front of a large crop of prominent NBA execs including my boys Bird, McHale and Ainge. Remember those 80's Celts/Lakers clashes? The NBA never had it so good.
Comments
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. The NBA is in the best shape it's ever been in.
Hunter's "upside" -- as overused as that word is in NBA scouting -- is enormous. If he had 2 or 3 more years of organized basketball under his belt, he would be a bigger name than he is. I could definitely see Hunter in the NBA by his late 20s.
I hope you're right, Vico. I was honestly surprised that Hunter didn't have a bigger year than he did this season. Numbers-wise, it's harder to make the NBA than any other pro league, but hopefully he'll get a shot.