Portsmouth, VA – These are some of the relatively under-the-radar players that opened some eyes of scouts at the 65th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
Zach LeDay (6-7, 235 – Virginia Tech) *All-Tournament-Team* Leday is an undersized power forward. He makes up for that with a solid frame and good length. His range doesn’t extend past 17-18 feet. He will need to develop his mid range to be more successful at the next level. He is relentless at attacking the paint through straight line drives and will challenge shot blockers. LeDay makes up for his lack of size with his high motor on both ends of the floor.
Tim Kempton (6-10, 250 – Lehigh) The two-time Patriot League player of the year showed flashes of why he was so successful at Lehigh. Kempton is a very physical player. He can post players up or even be effective in the mid range. He is still extending his range, but has the potential to eventually be a decent three-point option if left open. Kempton has a pro body and can dish out the physicality necessary to play the center position as a pro. He should get some looks for the NBA summer league, if not he will be a solid pro overseas.
Emmanuel Omogbo
Emmanuel Omogbo (6-8, 210 – Colorado State) *All-Tournament-Team* Omogbo is a high level athlete. Very explosive leaper and has a relentless motor. He finishes breakaways with dunks and never shies away from potential shot blockers. Emmanuel is not the most polished player on offense. His jumper is a work in progress. His scoring comes off hustle plays or “garbage” baskets. On defense he is a work-horse. He plays solid on and off ball and has the potential to be a lockdown perimeter defender.
Sebastian Saiz (6-8, 245 – Ole Miss) *All-Tournament-Team* Saiz is a extremely long 7’5.5 wingspan. He is an average athlete who lacks explosiveness, but makes it up with his relentless effort. Saiz has a decent mid range game extending to 17 feet, he is still working on his three-point range. He still has room to improve his post game, he needs to make more decisive quick moves and work on finishing with both hands. On defense, Saiz affects a lot shots in the paint, but may struggle with foul trouble due to being overzealous to block shots.
T.J. Williams (6-3, 205 – Northeastern) Williams has a pro ready body. He is a physical point guard and a solid athlete. He is not overly explosive or quick but understands how to use angles and exploit mismatches on the perimeter. He will need to improve as a three-point shooter however as he was just 33 percent from long range this year. Williams has a solid feel in the pick and roll and has the ability to get all the way to the rim or dish it to open teammates. He is a steady point guard that also has the ability to score.
Jeremy Senglin (6-1, 188 – Weber State) Strong build, but lacks height to play at high level. He is an average athlete, but he finds ways to be effective as a scorer. He is a solid three-point shooter especially in the catch and shoot. Senglin made 11-of-23 three-pointers in his three games. His ball handling needs to tighten up, as well as his playmaking ability to get others involved. He is more of a combo guard. Senglin is a solid on ball defender. Very physical, but his lack of height and overall athleticism limits him to guarding just the point guard slot.
Matt Jones
Matt Jones (6-5, 200 – Duke) *All-Tournament-Team* Jones had a solid tournament on both ends of the floor. He displayed an ability to hit the three, as well as play solid on and off ball defense. Jones has potential to be a solid 3&D type player. He looks like a safe bet to play overseas and carve out a solid career. His limited playmaking ability and isolation capabilities would make it extremely hard for him to advance to the NBA level.
Erik McCree (6-8, 226 – Louisiana Tech) McCree is a flat out scorer. He needs to extend his range and work on his three-point jumper. Anywhere from 18 feet and in McCree has a consistent stroke. He is most effective when driving to the basket. As a solid athlete and a having a strong frame, McCree has the ability to finish in the lane or draw contact to get to the line. He will have to put more work in on defense to prove he is more than a one-dimensional player.
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Portsmouth, VA – The 64th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament was filled with competitive hard fought games throughout. Several prospects shined, but we are going to focus on the under the radar players that may have made a huge impact on where they will be playing next season.
Alex Caruso – Texas A &M – PG – 6’5, 186
Caruso struggled in his first game, but picked up the slack in the other two. Caruso showed the ability to effectively run the pick and roll. As well as delivering perfect passes to players cutting in the lane. He has knack for using either hand to pass and knows when to hold the ball and take the jumper or drive the lane. However, he needs to continue to work on his mid range and three-point jumper. If he becomes a more consistent shooter he can pose a much bigger threat on offense. He uses his length well and is a gritty on ball defender.
Adrian Diaz – Florida International – C – 6’11, 230
Diaz has a massive and lengthy frame and he uses it to his advantage. He has a very raw offensive game and needs to develop in the post. He was involved constantly on the offensive and defensive boards and seems to get his hands on a lot of rebounds keeping the ball alive. He is also a threat to finishing plays down low with dunks. He needs to learn to gather and go up quicker. He has a very high motor and is an active defender around the rim. He has good timing on blocking shots and tends to do so without fouling.
Justin Sears – Yale – F – 6’8, 205
Sears is very long and a solid athlete. His shot is a little awkward with a release behind his head some, but effective in the mid range. The best asset to his game is his defense. Whether on or off ball or even pick and roll, Sears is very active and physical. On pick and roll defense he hedges out aggressively on ball handlers and disrupts any passes that might go to the roll man by using his length. Sears has potential to be a premier defender at the next level because he can guard multiple positions with his size.
James Kelly – Marshall – F – 6’8, 259
Kelly is a physical specimen for his size. He moves extremely well and is a very good athlete. He has the ability to score inside or outside on defenders depending upon the matchup. He has the potential to develop NBA range. He handles the ball well for his size and can score in transition. He is also a solid on ball defender and physical in the paint. Kelly also will use his size to chip in on the boards as he averaged 9.8 rebounds at Marshall this season.
Nathan Boothe – Toledo – PF – 6’9, 250
Boothe showed his shooting prowess throughout the P.I.T. He is very effective stretching the defense and forces bigs to close out on pick and pop situations. He has NBA range and is extremely efficient off the catch and shoot. The down side on Boothe is he lacks foot speed on defense and struggles mightily with the pick and roll. He does communicate very well on defense though.
Abdel Nader – Iowa State – SF – 6’6, 230
Nader showed he is a very solid athlete. He has the ability to hit the NBA 3. He also thrives getting in the lane. He draws a lot of contact and uses his body well to finish. He needs to work on tightening his handle some, but he mainly uses a quick first step to get by defenders.
Nick Faust – Long Beach State – SG – 6’6, 210
Faust is an explosive athlete. He takes extremely long strides and is very effective in the open floor. His jump shot release is a little to left side of his head, but he has improved it over the past 2 years. He has the ability to make the NBA 3, but seems to be either hot or cold at times. He needs to continue to work on his defense all around.
Bryn Forbes – Michigan State – SG – 6’3, 190
Forbes was either the best or second best shooter to Melvin Johnson for those at the P.I.T. Forbes showed the ability to hit from the NBA 3 off of pull ups, coming of screens or even the pick and roll. He has great form, rotation and arc. He needs to work on his ball handling some, as well as mixing in some drives to the basket to abstain from being too one dimensional. He also needs to work on his defense as he lacks lateral quickness, as well as physicality.
These were just several of the under the radar prospects that opened some eyes at this year’s P.I.T.
This article was written by Greg Walter, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can subscribe to our RSS feed from the upper right corner of our home page, follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.
Any international players interested in coming to the USA to play in college, prep school or high school can contact us here. We are looking for interns and sales associates. If you’re interested contact us and forward your resume.
The 63rd annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament was held from April 8th to April 11th. The PIT offers borderline NBA players a unique forum in which to showcase skills which they may not be able to display for the college team whom they play for. This is due to many reasons such as not being able to play a position that they may be better suited for because of the particular needs of their team. We witnessed many shooting guards being thrust into the position of having to run an offense and many power forwards having to play the three. This allows a smaller shooting guard or power forward to display skills which may benefit the player when he is being evaluated by scouts. Many players choose not to take advantage of this opportunity and the questions that scouts may have concerning their skill set are left unanswered. We believe that many circumstances dictate whether a particular player ends up playing in the NBA or having a successful career overseas. The following is a list of players who participated at the PIT who we believe helped enhance their chances .
Traevon Graham
Treveon Graham (VCU 6’5 ½”, 225 lbs.)
Graham was perhaps the most impressive player at the PIT and we forecast him to end up playing in the league at some point and possibly getting drafted. Graham has a powerful body and good length. He possesses a 6’10 ½” wingspan (+6). He is not an explosive leaper or exceptionally quick. However, his ability to shoot the three with consistency and a good first step allows him to get to the basket and his strength aids him in finishing.
He has a very quick, fluid release. He shot 38% from three point territory during the season on five attempts per game. He can make threes off the dribble, spotting up, or off movement. He must improve his ball handling skills. He is also a straight line penetrator to the basket. He got to the line 5.6 times per game and shot 69%. Graham is a very good rebounder who averaged 6.8 per game including 2.2 on the offensive end. He is a good defender who can guard three positions. He must become a better distributor although that was not his role at VCU. He does not turn the ball over very often.
We were informed that he interviewed well and is a hardworking, good kid. These qualities usually result in improvement and improve his chances to end up sticking with an NBA team.
Richaun Holmes (Bowling Green) 6’9 ½”, 204 lbs.
Every year a player comes to the PIT under the radar and impresses. That player this year was Holmes. Holmes must get stronger to compete against fours at the next level. However, he has a 7’1 ½’ wingspan (+5) and has very good with and without step leaping ability. He is very quick off his feet and moves very well laterally on the defensive end. This makes him an elite shot blocker and he also alters many shots. He has a very good second leap which allows him to be an effective athletic rebounder.
He does not force shots which resulted in his shooting 56% at Bowling Green and over 60% at the PIT. He has three point range. Holmes only attempted 41 shots from beyond the arc or 1.4 per game but made 42%. He has a high release and is consistent from 12-20 feet. He does not put the ball on the floor very well. We believe that with an effective face up game Holmes has a chance to be an NBA player and if he can develop a consistent three point shot he will have a successful career. He has the ability to play and be successful in a high level league overseas.
Darrun Hilliard
Darrun Hilliard (Villanova) 6’6 ½”, 197 lbs.
Hilliard did not put up good statistics at the PIT. His numbers were skewed by the fact that he had a terrible shooting performance in his final game. Hilliard is a versatile lefty with good length (+3.5”). He possesses a good first step who can finish at the rim and spot up or hit a three off the dribble. He also interviewed well and is generally considered an articulate, good kid. Perhaps his greatest strength is that he has a true position. He is a two guard with good size. This could get him drafted.
Levi Randolph (Alabama) 6’5 ¾”, 195 lbs.
Randolph has good quickness and size. He also is a true shooting guard. He is crafty and changes speeds well to get to the basket. He also has the quickness to create his own shot. He must improve his ability to shoot from beyond the arc. He will be 23 years old in October. This can be a negative with many NBA franchises but he is considered a mature kid.
DJ Newbill (Penn State) 6’3 ¾”, 214 pounds
A good athlete but not an elite athlete. He is your classic tweener. He can score in a variety of ways. He averaged 20.7 points per game. Newbill has the athletic ability and craftiness to get to the hoop and the strength to finish. He can create space off the dribble to get off good looks from distance as evidenced by his 37% shooting on five attempts per game. He is a cerebral player. Newbill showed impeccable timing using screens and on pick and rolls. He averaged 3.1 assists for Penn State but also turned the ball over 2.6 times. He did not show that he possessed point guard skills at the PIT but could be a secondary point guard in the NBA.
Cady Lalanne (Massachusetts) 6’9 ½, 241 lbs.
Lalanne did not live up to expectations this past season for Massachusetts. In fact his performance was disappointing considering the promise he had shown last season in early games against LSU and Brigham Young. Lalanne is a physical specimen at the four. He is very strong and long. He has a wingspan of 7’5” (+8.75). His strength and length makes him an effective rebounder. He averaged 9.5 rebounds per game for Massachusetts and averaged double-doubles in each of his three games at the PIT.
However, he lacks consistency in performance and more importantly in effort. He is not quick off his feet and has average footwork in the post at best. His post moves are not very advanced. Lalanne also is turnover prone as his paltry 10 assists to 80 turnovers attest to. He does not force shots and uses his strength to score in the paint. He shot 55% from the field. Lalanne also averaged 4.5 free throws per game but shot only 64%. He has a face up game which is fairly consistent to fifteen feet. He attempted only eighteen shots from beyond the arc and only made three.
Lalanne is a capable shot blocker mostly of the on ball variety. He has a hard time guarding mobile big men and for his strength he allows low post position too easily. Lalanne will be twenty three on April 22nd.
Marcus Thornton (William & Mary) 6’2 ½”, 187 lbs.
Thornton had been listed as 6’4” so the fact that he measured only 6’2 ½” makes it all the more critical that he can show that he can play the point. He has very good quickness and is fast with the ball in the open court. He changes speeds well utilizing hesitation dribbles and head fakes. Thornton can get to the basket and is crafty enough to finish with either hand. His quickness allows him to create space. He has an effective step back jumper and shot 40% from distance on 7.7 attempts per game. He shoots 83% on 4.6 free throws per game. He’s a very cerebral and unselfish player.
Thornton did show flashes that he could play the point at the PIT averaging four assists per game. He understands defensive spacing and has the length (6’7 ½”, +6) and anticipation to interrupt the passing lanes. He must get stronger and show that he can play the point if he is to have any chance of playing in the NBA. He is talented enough and mature enough to play at a high level overseas in the right situation.
Darion Atkins (Virginia) 6’8”, 201 lbs.
Atkins was the high scorer at the PIT and the third highest rebounder. This was no small accomplishment given the fact that he only averaged 7.6 points and 6.0 rebounds this past season for the Cavaliers. He was also a late addition to the field at the PIT and probably due to his proximity to the event. Everyone who watched Virginia this past season realized that Atkins was an undersized big who anchored a very strong defensive team. He was looked at as the rim protector and the guy who spoke out against his teammates after their third round loss to Michigan State.
Atkins was impressive as a superb defender whose 7’2” wingspan (+7) allowed him to alter shots and finish in the paint. He also displayed some nice footwork and short little hooks in the paint as well as a face up game to 15 feet. He was an effort guy who was able to gather up loose balls and finish in the paint. He does not appear at this time to possess the skill set to thrive overseas and will probably be a D-League guy.
LaDontae Henton
LaDontae Henton (Providence) 6’5”, 213 lbs.
Henton was one of our favorite players to observe this past season. He has a non stop motor and always seems to beat his opponent to the ball. He is a tough kid who maximized his skills despite having to play the four for the majority of his career. The southpaw scored over 2,000 points and pulled down over 1,000 rebounds in his career at Providence.
Henton is a good athlete whose 7’0” wingspan and athleticism allowed him to finish in the paint as well as score on the perimeter. The problem is he is only a 34% shooter from beyond the arc and only averaged .9 assists this past season when he played the three. He is not the type of ball handler who will blow by his opponent in a half court set. Henton just does not have the skill set to play the two in the league. We believe that the toughness and intangibles he brings to the court will result in a successful career overseas.
J.J Avila (Colorado State) 6’6 ½”, 251 lbs.
Avila was the glue guy for Colorado State who did all the little things that helps a team be successful. He is a fine teammate who has the ability to hit the big shot at opportune times. He is always aware of where his teammates are best able to use the ball. Avila can play the point forward and the offense can be run thru him. He is a very cerebral player who does many things well. He has uncanny anticipation at the defensive end of the floor. Avila understands positional rebounding and is effective on the defensive and offensive boards. He is not an outstanding shooter and is not an elite athlete. He is a mature young man who will find a place to thrive overseas.
Other impressive players – Matt Stainbrook (Xavier), Jabril Trawick (Georgetown), D’Angelo Harrison (St. John’s) and Chavaughn Lewis (Marist).
Any international players interested in coming to the USA to play in college, prep school or high school can contact us here. We are looking for interns and sales associates. If you’re interested contact us and forward your resume.
The next interview in our series “Meeting Top International Prospects with NetScouts Basketball” is Igor Milicic Jr., a Polish 6-foot-9 versatile player who has the size and skills to be a perfect fit for the modern era of non-positional basketball.
His father, Igor Milicic, was a Croatian national team player and a longtime head coach of Anwil Wloclavek, a Polish First Division basketball team which played also in the Basketball Champions League in Europe. Milicic is now coaching BM Slam Stal Ostrow, one of the top teams in Poland’s first league. We scouted his son in Munich at the ANGT in January, 2020. Playing for U18 Ratiopharm Ulm, we were impressed by Milicic’s versatility and level of confidence handling the ball given his height. The 2020 ANGT Munich was definitely the international breakout for him. After that event his constant imрrоvement established himself as one of the top 2021 European recruits.
Playing for Orange Academy Ulm in the German Third Division this season, Milicic averages 13.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists, while taking little more than five shots from long distance a game, making 35-of-108 shots on threes in 21 games. Milicic’s solid performance, great work ethic and high upside even earned him some appearances on the senior team of Ratiopharm Ulm. Eventually he got an invitation from the national senior team of Poland in the FIBA Eurobasket qualifying window in February, where he made his debut.
Milicic has recently decided that he will continue his future development by playing college basketball in the USA next year, as he committed to Virginia.
Despite his busy schedule, the best Polish recruit was able to share with us his thoughts on a variety of subjects. Check out the interview below:
Hello Igor! Hope you and your family are doing well in these wild times. Congratulations on your commitment to Virginia! Can you share with us more about how you’ve been spending this year given the impacts of COVID-19? What was your approach and main focus in improving your skill set?
When the first lockdown came, my family quickly moved to Poland to spend this wild time with my dad. We were super careful at that time. The only positive thing about being there was that my dad had an access to the local club’s basketball facility. Me and my brothers were going to practice with our dad every day for at least 2 hours. There were people opening the gym only for us and we were parking our car literally in the gym, just not to have contact with strangers. We were working on everything! Starting with ball handling, going to passing, conditioning, shooting and defending, ending with learning new ways to get to the rim with multiple moves. It was a 2-month basketball camp. I think that was the time when I took my game to the whole other level.
How did you start playing basketball? How big of an impact did your father have? And what kind of advice do you receive from him?
I started playing basketball very naturally. My dad never pushed or told me to start playing basketball, but this beautiful sport was always in my life. We were attending all his games and it just became a part of my life at very young age. Then I decided that I want to start practicing as well and I was really good at it as a very young boy. After that as I got older I had much more questions about basketball and I could always reach out to him and my dad would always give me the best answer he could. If I ever needed him, he would always help, whether it was basketball related or not, he would always try to make me happy.
Playing for one of the best youth programs in Germany, Ratiopharm Ulm, you had your international breakout performance at the 2020 ANGT in Munich, the best U18 club tournament in Europe. What was your mentality going into the event and how did that tournament change your perception of yourself and the game?
That tournament definitely spread my name to the basketball world and more people got aware of me and my game. It was an honor to be a part of such a big event that takes place just once a year and many top players took part in it in the past years. To be honest I was looking forward to this event for months prior and when it finally happened, I was ready for it. I had a breakout season in U19 German league, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds a game, so I was really confident coming to the ANGT. I don’t want to sound cocky or over-confident but I felt like I would play well in that tournament. I think one of my biggest advantages is that I play better when it’s big game. So, to answer your question, I don’t think that my ANGT performance changed me or my perception of my game in any way, I was just happy that it happened and it gave me a huge amount of confidence to see that I am able to compete or even be better than top players in my age group.
Recently you’ve been among the several European youngsters who had the chance to practice and eventually make a debut for their national senior teams at the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers. Tell us more about that experience, what it felt to represent Poland at the highest level at such a young age and what are the lessons you took from it?
It was the biggest thing that happened in my life so far! It’s not usual for an 18-year-old to make it to the national senior team and I did it. I feel like it was the biggest appreciation of all the work that I put into basketball. I gained a huge amount of experience there just being around the best players and coaches from Poland. Everybody was really kind and helpful, there was no discrimination because I was the youngest player. It was quite the opposite; everybody was ready to help me learn everything as soon as possible. It was really amazing to represent my country and to be a part of the European championship qualifiers. As the game was coming closer and closer, I was getting more excited with each second. I couldn’t stop smiling. But when the game started, all emotions went aside and all of my focus went to basketball. There was no stress when I got on the court, the only thing in my mind was to just do what I normally do and everything will be fine.
Throughout the season you’ve been putting solid numbers playing for Orange Academy in German Pro B. You also received some playing time for the senior team of Ratiopharm Ulm. What are the lessons and advantages a college recruit can gain while playing at those levels in Germany?
The most important thing is that basketball in the States is way different than in Europe. I feel like playing here and gaining experience with the pro team gives me a huge advantage in terms of knowing and understanding the game.
Mostly considered as a late bloomer, you’ve ended up being on the radar of high and mid-major teams, several of them ACC teams. What do you think you can bring up to the table playing for Virginia and what style of basketball and position you think fits you the best?
I think I can bring a lot even in my freshman year. The way that I learned to play here in Europe allows me to be a step ahead of many domestic USA players. Right now, I’m practicing regularly with the first team and on the roster, there are some big college names such as Aric Holman, Troy Caupain, John Petrucelli and last but not least – the former “Wahoo” Isaiah Wilkins. They all graduated college and played professionally for few years already and I get to compete with them daily. Here in Ulm I played mostly on the perimeter as a shooting guard or small forward so I think that’s where I feel the best. I am tall but my ball control and footwork are on a really high level and that allows me to play more like a guard than a big man and I think that is my biggest advantage over the other competitors.
What have you specifically been looking for when recruited by colleges? What was the winning advantage of Virginia over the others?
We were looking for a situation where I can trust a coach and see myself playing long term in his system. I think Coach Tony Bennett is a person that I can trust, he will do everything to make me and the team better. Another thing that was great about UVA is that most players in my position are leaving and I will have a chance to play an important role from the start. Education was also taken into account.
Which aspects of your game will you be looking to improve the most over the summer? What are your expectations for your first season in college?
I think I have to improve my body the most. I have to be more explosive and stronger coming into next season. I already have the skill and the moves so I think that getting my body better will make everything much easier. Finishing, blowing by the defense and defending. Everything will come easier if I’m more athletic. But apart from that I can always improve my shooting. Right now, I consider myself as a really good shooter but if I want to get to that elite level there are thousand shots to be taken to get there.
What are your long-term goals, where do you envision yourself playing in five years?
My goal is to work as hard as I can as often as I can. So that in five years I am the best version that I could possibly be. If it’s NBA it will be a dream come true, if it’s Euroleague it will be perfectly fine. I just want to be sure that I did everything to reach my full potential or even get over it.
Are there any players in Europe and in the NBA you like studying/watching and why?
In Europe there is Vladimir Lucic from Bayern Munich. I love watching him play, he never gives up and always gives 100% on the floor. I could see myself playing like him in few years. From the NBA there are many active guys as well as some all-time greats like Kobe Bryant or Tracy McGrady. But from the current NBA players I love watching Jason Tatum and Brooklyn’s duo – Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. I often watch their highlights and brake out each move they do into pieces. I look most at Durant, all the shifts, drags and hesitations. I’m trying to apply his moves to my bag.
Would you name one player whose style of game you consider is closest to yours?
Kevin Durant and Vladimir Lucic
Which is your best on-court memory so far?
Definitely playing for the national team! I don’t think there is anything that can beat representing your country on the national stage unless it’s any kind of championship that you win with them.
What is your basketball schedule in a normal day?
Practice in the morning before the school starts at 6:30. After school I like to grab some food and go to the gym to shoot before our team practice and weight session. After practice I also stay to shoot with the gun a little more unless I am really tired or I have to study. So basically, sometimes I leave the house at 5:40 AM and come back at 10 PM.
What do you prefer doing in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies?
I don’t really have free time during the week, so I can’t do some activities that require a lot of time but when I have an off day, I like to spend it with my friends or family. I have two younger brothers who I can always play with, so I am never bored.
Thanks for your time Igor! We hope you have a successful and healthy end to this wild season!