Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
Encyclopedia
The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, or "PIT", is the United States
' oldest amateur basketball
tournament and the only postseason camp conducted for the top NCAA (i.e. college
) seniors only.
The tournament is recognized by the National Basketball Association
(NBA) and European scouts as a showcase for future professional players. Approximately 200 NBA representatives attend the event with 64 seniors invited to play in one of the 8 teams (8x8 players). The four-day tournament consist of 12 games and has existed since 1953 without interruption.
NBA players who are alumni of the Portsmouth Invitational include Scottie Pippen
, Dennis Rodman
, John Stockton
, Tim Hardaway
, Ben Wallace
, Avery Johnson
, Rick Barry
, Dave Cowens
, and Earl Monroe
.
The Portsmouth Invitational is the first of two NBA pre-draft
camps, the other being the Orlando pre-draft
camp. Portsmouth has few NBA first-round draft picks. Most of its players are on the fringe and get drafted in the second round or end up in the NBA Development League
or play overseas. Six of the 64 players from 2009 were drafted, all in the second round.
All games are played at Portsmouth, Virginia
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' oldest amateur basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
tournament and the only postseason camp conducted for the top NCAA (i.e. college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
) seniors only.
The tournament is recognized by the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) and European scouts as a showcase for future professional players. Approximately 200 NBA representatives attend the event with 64 seniors invited to play in one of the 8 teams (8x8 players). The four-day tournament consist of 12 games and has existed since 1953 without interruption.
NBA players who are alumni of the Portsmouth Invitational include Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
, Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was nicknamed "Dennis the Menace" and "The...
, John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
, Tim Hardaway
Tim Hardaway
Timothy Duane "Tim" Hardaway is a retired American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association and who in his prime was one of the league's best point guards...
, Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace
Ben Camey Wallace is an American basketball center for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University and signed with the Washington Bullets as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
, Avery Johnson
Avery Johnson
Avery Johnson is a former American professional basketball player and current head coach of the National Basketball Association team New Jersey Nets. He has also coached the Dallas Mavericks, leading them to their first NBA Finals appearance and four consecutive 50+ win seasons...
, Rick Barry
Rick Barry
Richard Francis Dennis Barry III , better known as Rick Barry, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is considered by many veteran basketball observers to be one of the greatest pure small forwards of all time as a result of his very precise outside shot, uncanny court vision,...
, Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
, and Earl Monroe
Earl Monroe
Vernon Earl Monroe is an American former professional basketball player known for his flamboyant dribbling, passing, and play-making. His nicknames is "Earl the Pearl".-Early years:...
.
The Portsmouth Invitational is the first of two NBA pre-draft
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
camps, the other being the Orlando pre-draft
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
camp. Portsmouth has few NBA first-round draft picks. Most of its players are on the fringe and get drafted in the second round or end up in the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
or play overseas. Six of the 64 players from 2009 were drafted, all in the second round.
All games are played at Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
.