NBA Draft 2019: Previewing the upcoming Portsmouth Invitational
By Logan Butts
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Roster: JaKeenan Gant (Louisiana), Jessie Govan (Georgetown), Tyler Hall (Montana State), Daquan Jeffries (Tulsa), Jeremiah Martin (Memphis), Juwan Morgan (Indiana), Justin Robinson (Virginia Tech), and Quinndary Weatherspoon (Mississippi State).
Gant started out at Missouri and ended up as a two-time Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. He could be a long, small-ball rim runner/protector off the bench. Jeffries wasn’t a huge standout on the court, but he just won the college basketball dunk contest so the athleticism is there. Martin, Weatherspoon, and Hall ( the Big Sky’s all-time leading scorer) can score with the best of them. Govan was First-Team All-Big East. Robinson was key in the Hokies’ Sweet 16 run.
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Roster: Torin Dorn (N.C. State), Fletcher Magee (Wofford) Jordan Murphy (Minnesota) Josh Perkins (Gonzaga), Nick Perkins (Buffalo), Elijah Thomas (Clemson), Stephen Thompson Jr. (Oregon State), and Jordon Varnado (Troy).
Magee needs no introduction. I think he has to get a shot in the three-heavy modern NBA. As a mid-major fan, it’s great to see two Buffalo standouts invited. Perkins was one of the most underrated floor generals in the country. Jordan Murphy was strong inside for Minnesota. Varnado’s brother got some NBA run with the Heat among other teams, although Jordon isn’t quite the defensive force that Jarvis was.