PORTSMOUTH, Va. -- Two years removed from participating in the 2017 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White dropped 36 points on the Denver Nuggets in the NBA playoffs this week, a stark reminder for all 30 NBA teams present about the possibilities that might be uncovered.
The grandfather of NBA pre-draft showcases (dating to 1953), the all-NCAA senior camp is a throwback that can be maligned but continues to churn out rotation players year after year. Jimmy Butler, Robert Covington, Wesley Matthews, Aron Baynes, Richaun Holmes, J.J. Barea, DeMarre Carroll and Kent Bazemore are among the recent alumni still playing NBA games.
The introduction of the G League Elite Camp this year created a degree of uncertainty among PIT organizers, agents and potential prospects about how Portsmouth will be perceived by NBA executives and the league office in the hierarchy of the pre-draft process moving forward, and whether this camp might be on its last legs. In the past, five PIT participants were guaranteed invites to the NBA combine, which created incentive for seniors projected to land in the second round or go undrafted to attend and attempt to play their way to Chicago. This year, no such guarantee was in place, and no one really knows what the breakdown will look like for the G League camp. How many seniors will be invited, and will the league reward those who elected to attend PIT?
A number of seniors who aren't locks to be drafted -- including Zylan Cheatham, Justin Wright-Foreman, Dean Wade, Robert Franks, Cody Martin, Caleb Martin, Ethan Happ and Tacko Fall -- decided to turn down invites, betting on the fact that they will get to Chicago one way or another.
Nevertheless, there is always value in playing well in front of a huge contingent of NBA scouts and executives, and the PIT assembled the usual solid group of participants.
A number of players separated themselves from the group of 64 participants over the course of four days, some of whom likely will be drafted on June 20. Here are the biggest standouts:
Justin Robinson | PG | Virginia Tech
Despite not putting up eye-popping stats, Robinson drew the biggest buzz among executives as a potential draft pick, as it's easy to project him into an NBA backup role.
Measuring 6-foot barefoot with a 6-1 wingspan, Robinson doesn't look the part on first glance, but he ticks a number of boxes teams look for at his position. A shifty ball handler who operates at different speeds and plays with excellent pace, Robinson embraced his role as his team's floor general and generated good looks for teammates, whipping the ball all over the floor unselfishly with impressive creativity and IQ. A career 39 percent 3-point shooter at the college level, Robinson shoots an easy ball and won't appear to have much issue translating his jumper to NBA range, making a number of good-looking pull-ups and running off a screen for one memorable, game-winning 3-pointer.
Though not blessed with elite physical tools, Robinson is a tough, competitive defender who picks up opponents in the backcourt and has excellent timing getting in passing lanes. The youngest player in attendance -- he doesn't turn 22 until October -- Robinson is a favorite of analytics models thanks to his youth, offensive efficiency, passing metrics and high steal rate. He drew rave reviews in the interview process, as well, thanks to his stellar off-court intangibles, and he will be a popular name for NBA teams on the private workout circuit.
DaQuan Jeffries | SF/PF | Tulsa
While only measuring 6-4 barefoot, Jeffries was able to spend significant time at the power forward position at this camp thanks to his 7-foot wingspan, huge hands and chiseled frame, which proved to be a significant advantage for his team.
Jeffries is a terrific athlete who plays with tremendous power and explosiveness, making a number of highlight-reel plays on both ends of the floor. The fact that he's also a capable shooter with his feet set -- hitting 38 percent of his college 3s and showing reliable touch from the corners here -- makes him an ideal fit as a switchy, small-ball forward. He's tough, intense and competitive defensively, looking adept at putting a body on big men inside the paint and slowing down smaller guards on the perimeter.
Jeffries' ballhandling, passing and overall decision-making are works in progress at times, but he brings enough other things to the table as a utility-role player for that to not be a deal breaker for his NBA chances. He helped himself as much as any prospect in attendance this week, considering he was somewhat off the radar at Tulsa.
Quinndary Weatherspoon | SG | Mississippi State
Weatherspoon had a breakout senior year in the SEC and continued that momentum with a very strong PIT in which he led his team in scoring. Weatherspoon's 6-9 wingspan, strong 210-pound frame and fluid athleticism allowed him to play any of the backcourt spots this week, and he showed great versatility in doing so, particularly defensively.
He has quick feet, strong anticipation skills and a competitive approach. He also has turned himself into a very capable shooter, hitting 40 percent of his 3s this season after making just 29 percent last season. He continued to make shots reliably at the PIT, both with his feet set and off the bounce, despite his slow release. Unlike many 3-and-D prospects, Weatherspoon also offers some value on the ball, as he's a functional pick-and-roll player, a solid passer and a capable shot-creator in a secondary role if needed.
Weatherspoon fits the mold of a Gary Harris-esqe versatile guard/wing many NBA teams are looking for these days.
Justin James | SG | Wyoming
James had a stellar individual season but got very little help on a Wyoming squad that stumbled to a disappointing 7-24 record in the Mountain West Conference, making his performance here important.
Although he was up-and-down from an efficiency standpoint, James produced a lot of intrigue by measuring 6-6 barefoot, testing out as the fastest player in the camp in terms of the ¾-court sprint and lane-agility drills and operating on the ball quite a bit, giving him unique versatility for a guard. He plays at different speeds smoothly and does a great job of moving the ball ahead in transition, using well-timed bounce passes on the move to find teammates for easy looks, even being a little bit too unselfish at times. He also knocked down a number of 3-pointers both with his feet set and off the dribble, indicating he has some potential to continue to improve in this area if he can speed up his release.
James' frame is a work in progress, as he's very thin in the lower body and doesn't have great length with a near-even wingspan, something that probably isn't a deal-breaker considering his size for a guard. He could stand to get a little tougher with his finishes around the paint, as he struggled inside the arc all camp long.
James dropped some intriguing glimpses of potential in a number of areas that could easily earn him an NBA contract next year as a development project.
Josh Reaves | SG/SF | Penn State
Reaves measured well at 6-4 barefoot and 204 pounds with a 6-8½ wingspan, giving him ample tools for an NBA wing. Though not blessed with elite athleticism or a perfect frame, Reaves proved to be one of the most versatile and instinctual players in attendance, playing an extremely efficient blend of basketball on both ends of the floor. He hit shots from the perimeter all camp long, made the extra pass intelligently and brought strong energy and anticipation skills defensively.
Although he's not loaded with upside, it's not difficult to envision Reaves stepping onto an NBA floor down the road thanks to his versatility and willingness to do the little things.
Honorable mention
James Palmer | SF/PF | Nebraska
Palmer scored in bunches at the PIT, but he wasn't very efficient and proved to be a bit of a ball-stopper at times, playing an iso-heavy style inside the arc. At 6-5 barefoot with a 6-11 wingspan and a solid frame, Palmer has definite intrigue with his physical tools, aggressiveness and scoring instincts. He likely will need to become a more efficient spot-up shooter, defender and passer to carve out an NBA career.
Kerwin Roach II | SG | Texas
Miscast on his team as a point guard but arguably the best athlete in attendance, Roach played a fairly selfish brand of basketball at the PIT, lowering his head and settling for a barrage of pull-up jumpers that didn't fall very often. Roach seemed to be making strides with his decision-making as a senior but took a step backward here with a lack of structure. Nevertheless, he will still continue to get opportunities during the pre-draft process and beyond thanks to his solid size (6-3½ barefoot), explosiveness and defensive potential. Players who are passable shooters and have the quickness to get anywhere they want on the floor have a lot of value in today's NBA, so Roach is someone teams will want to study more closely despite his poor showing.
John Konchar | PG/SG | Fort Wayne
Konchar generated some nice buzz with his impressive productivity and sparkling efficiency operating on the ball for Fort Wayne the past few years, but he was unable to replicate his success at the PIT. Surrounded by iso-heavy players at every position on a team with little structure, Konchar wasn't assertive enough looking to impose his will in games, playing mostly off the ball and being unable to show the same court vision, creativity and feel that make him an intriguing guard prospect. Konchar measured well at 6-4 barefoot, 200 pounds with a 6-8 wingspan, and he still brought his typical competitiveness and hustle defensively while dropping a few glimpses of his versatility with smart passes. But he didn't have a great week overall.
Marial Shayok | SF | Iowa State
Shayok showed both sides of the coin, dropping 37 points on 7 of 9 3-pointers made in an exhilarating overtime win in his first game and then going 1-of-9 for just four points the second day. Measured at 6-4 barefoot, Shayok has a massive 7-foot wingspan, but his lanky, 193-pound frame, average awareness and upright style make it difficult for him to cover ground defensively at times. His shot-making ability and overall scoring instincts from the perimeter are impressive nonetheless, and Shayok will get plenty of looks through the draft process despite being one of the older players in the class, turning 24 in July.
Donta Hall | C | Alabama
Hall emerged as a draft prospect early in his career at Alabama but seemingly regressed as a senior, as did his whole team in what was a disappointing season for the Crimson Tide. At Portsmouth, Hall did a nice job of reminding scouts of why he was deemed intriguing early on, measuring extremely well (6-9 barefoot, 7-4½ wingspan, 9-1 standing reach) and playing with terrific energy on both ends of the floor. Hall did a great job of keeping things simple offensively, running the floor with purpose, setting solid screens, rolling hard to the rim and finishing explosively around the basket. He made good decisions with the ball and even knocked down a handful of midrange jumpers, showing nice touch in the process. Hall doesn't display great awareness defensively, but he's quick off his feet and has the length and reach to be bothersome as a rim protector, blocking a number of shots in his three days at the PIT. There might not be enough value in big men in his mold these days to be drafted, but he looks like a solid two-way, contract candidate.