The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, (PIT), is the only postseason camp restricted to college basketball seniors. The Portsmouth Invitational is the first of two NBA pre-draft camps, the other being the Orlando pre-draft camp. [1] In 2019, SB Ballard construction was the lead sponsor of the uniforms as they began to expand into building arenas around the country. It was announced on March 14, 2020, the 68th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. [2]
The four-day tournament format consists of twelve games (eight teams of eight players each play three games) and has been held annually since 1953. [3] The tournament is recognized by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and European scouts as a showcase for future professional players. [4] Approximately 200 NBA representatives attend the event.
The tournament typically begins the first or second Wednesday that follows the championship game of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. All games are played at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Virginia. Admission to day games is free, single-night general admission tickets are available at the door. Discounted four-day passes are sold at the Portsmouth Visitor Center.
NBA players who are alumni of the Portsmouth Invitational include Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, John Stockton, Tim Hardaway, Ben Wallace, Avery Johnson, Jeremy Lin, Rick Barry, Dave Cowens, and Earl Monroe. [5]
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. is a Jamaican-American basketball coach and former professional player who last coached for the Georgetown University men's team. He played most of his career as the starting center for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) before ending his playing career with brief stints with the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic. Ewing is regarded as one of the greatest centers of all time, playing a dominant role in the New York Knicks' 1990s success.
Gerry McNamara is an American former basketball player and current head coach of the Siena Saints men's basketball team. Gerry is the former associate head coach of the Syracuse University men's basketball team. A former guard for the Orange, he never missed a start in his career which lasted from 2002 to 2006. He also helped lead the team to the 2003 national title.
Peter Aluma was a Nigerian professional basketball player from Lagos. After high school at Okota Grammar School in Isolo, Nigeria, the 2.08-m (6'10") center became a star at Liberty University in Virginia, U.S.
Sean Areon Dockery is a retired American professional basketball player. He has played professionally in Canada, France, Romania and Germany, as well as in the U.S. Dockery was regarded as one of the nation's top high school point guards when he came to Duke University. He split time at point guard with Greg Paulus in his senior year.
Maurice Darnell Ager is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans from 2002 until 2006. Ager led the Spartans to the NCAA Final Four as a junior in 2005 and averaged 14 points per game. He led the Big Ten Conference in scoring during his senior season. Ager was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with 28th overall pick of the 2006 NBA draft. He played parts of four seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Ager also played in the NBA Development League and in Spain.
Kyle Edward Singler is an American former professional basketball player. Singler was a four-year starter for the Duke men's basketball team and was instrumental in their 2010 NCAA championship run, earning Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. In the 2011 NBA draft, the Detroit Pistons selected Singler in the second round with the overall 33rd pick. His professional career spanned from 2011 to 2019.
Deron Washington is an American basketball player who last played for Mitteldeutscher of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). He played in college for the Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team. He was selected with the 59th overall selection in the 2008 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team represents West Virginia University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. WVU has won 13 conference tournament championships, and has 31 appearances in the NCAA tournament, including two Final Fours, most recently in 2010. The Mountaineers have also appeared in 16 National Invitation Tournaments (NIT), and have won the tournament twice, in 1942 and 2007. The 1942 NIT Championship is claimed by West Virginia as a National Championship.
The Florida State Seminoles men's basketball team represents Florida State University in the intercollegiate sport of basketball. The Seminoles compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Zabian Dowdell is an American former professional basketball player. Born in Pahokee, Florida, he played basketball for his hometown's high school. He played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies from 2003 to 2007. In his senior season he was named in the First-team All-ACC and the ACC All-Defensive team. Following his graduation from college, Dowdell played professionally mainly in Europe, also having brief stints in the NBA and the NBA D-League.
Marlon Palmer is an American former professional basketball player.
The Bradley Braves men's basketball team represents Bradley University, located in Peoria, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They compete as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The Braves are currently coached by Brian Wardle and play their home games at Carver Arena.
Jamon Alfred Lucas Gordon is an American former professional basketball player. Standing at 1.91 m he played the point guard and shooting guard positions. He played college basketball with the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Reginald Leon Williams II is an American former professional basketball player who played seven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for five teams. He played college basketball for the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) where he is the school's all-time leading scorer and led the country in scoring twice.
Keith Andre Wright is an American professional basketball player for Atomerőmű SE of the Nemzeti Bajnokság I/A. He played college basketball for Harvard.
Deonte DeAngelo Burton is an American professional basketball player for the Mets de Guaynabo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles and the Iowa State Cyclones.
Christopher Xavier Chiozza is an American professional basketball player who last played for Saski Baskonia of the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Florida Gators. Chiozza won an NBA championship with the Warriors in 2022.
George McZavier King Jr. is an American professional basketball player for Ironi Ness Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes, earning second-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12 as a senior in 2018. He was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft.
Justin Michael Bibbs is an American professional basketball player who last played for Apollon Patras of the Greek Basket League. He played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to basketball around the world, mirroring its impact across all sports. Around the world and to varying degrees, events and competitions have been cancelled or postponed with limited or no spectators, and other restrictions in 2020 and 2021. The National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended its 2019–20 season due to one player testing positive from COVID-19, and began to resume the season later in 2020.