PORTSMOUTH, VA - Kyle Hines' team advanced to the semifinals in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament with a 101-80 win on Thursday night. They will play again Friday night at 9 pm.
Hines had 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks in 23 minutes of action off the bench as Portsmouth Sports Club topped Cherry, Bekaert and Holland, 101-88.
This year is the 56th annual tournament, which serves as a showcase for outstanding basketball players in their senior year of college. The P.I.T. is the nation's oldest amateur basketball tournament. It is recognized by NBA and European scouts as the premier showcase for future professional players. In fact, it is the only tournament for college seniors to participate in and be evaluated by NBA personnel prior to the league’s pre-draft camp in Orlando.
The tournament’s history goes all the way back to the days of Rick Barry, playing in the tournament in 1965 following his senior year at Miami (FL). Each year for 55 years the P.I.T has invited 64 of the best college senior basketball players from across the nation to participate in a four-day, twelve game tournament in front of representatives from every NBA team. The tournament drew the attention of NBA Scouts and General Managers in the mid-70's when players like Dave Cowens, John Lucas, Walt Szczerbiak and Bobby Cremins came to Portsmouth to play. Soon the word spread and approximately 200 Scouts, General Managers and Representatives of all 30 NBA teams began to come to see players like John Stockton, Dennis Rodman, Tim Hardaway, Scottie Pippen and others. Today scouts from numerous international leagues have joined in on the annual April pilgrimage to Portsmouth. Over the years the P.I.T. has been a showcase for five of the 50 greatest players in NBA History (Barry, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Dave Cowens, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen) and for many others who have gone on to NBA stardom.
VMI's Reggie Williams led all scorers with 22 points for Portsmouth Sports Club, which shot 51.3 percent from the floor and held the opposition to just 39 percent shooting. Six players scored in double-figures for Portsmouth Sports Club, including Utah State's Jaycee Carroll with 16.
Hines was 4-for-7 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the field in his 23 minutes of action. He also had three steals.
Complete tournament coverage is available at http://www.portsmouthinvitational.com and http://www.hoopsworld.com.
- UNCG -