Portsmouth Invitational Player Preview, Part III

Every year, the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT) brings together 64 of the top seniors in the country for a 4-day tournament in front of a gym full of professional scouts from the NBA, D-League, and around the world. Though NBA success stories are still there from the PIT, 8 players from last year’s tournament have played in the league this season, most still have to take a long road to there, often going undrafted and battling for roster spots through Summer League, training camp, and playing overseas or in the D-League. The games themselves aren’t always a great place to evaluate talent, as they are often guard-dominant, and many players are there thinking of making a name for themselves ahead of everything else.

Over the next day, I will look at all 64 players in this year’s tournament, with a quick breakdown of the skills and abilities which got them invites. Each part consists of 16 players, and will be done in alphabetic order.

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Here’s a look at the third set of 16 players:

[Click for Part I, Part II]

Chavaughn Lewis, 6’5, 185, Marist, Guard– Lewis has been a tremendous scoring guard the past four seasons at Marist, including averaging over 20 points per game this past year. Though not a very good perimeter shooter, Lewis is very good at attacking the basket, especially in isolation. He has a good first step to the basket, and he has a variety of attack moves off the dribble to help him get to the rim. Once he gets within 10 feet of the basket, Lewis can be very creative about finding shots, and though he isn’t particularly strong, he can be very good about drawing contact. He sees the floor well and he can use his ability to draw multiple defenders off the dribble to find open teammates. Defensively, Lewis does a very good job using his length to disrupt opponents both on and off the ball. He moves his feet fairly well, and he shows remarkable timing when looking to make a play on the ball. Lewis rebounds well for his position, and his ability to push the ball up the floor allows him to get the team out in transition quickly once he grabs a rebound.

Denzel Livingston, 6’4, 178, Incarnate Word, Guard– Livingston has been a stat-sheet stuffer for the Cardinals for the past few seasons, including being one of the nation’s top scorers this past season at over 21 points per game. He is a high usage offensive player, much more comfortable with the ball in his hands so he can look to attack the basket. Livingston gets to the free throw line at a high rate, where he converts 80 percent, but his perimeter shooting still needs a lot of work, especially with shot selection. Livingston has the ability to create for teammates off the dribble, though he looks for his shot first often, and he has a problem with trying to force his way into the defense. He was among the best defenders in the country this past season, having the ability to play on and off the ball well, and showing great instincts. He was among the nation’s leaders in steals, and his frenetic style caused a lot of problems for ballhandlers. Livingston showed to be a good shot blocker for his size, using his ability to cover ground quickly to help in the lane area, and he was also a very good rebounder for his position.

Mikh McKinney, 6’1, 170, Sacramento State, Guard– McKinney was among the nation’s best point guards this past season, proving to be adept as a passer and scorer for the Hornets. McKinney is very good as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, using the screens well to create separation for him to get to the basket or hit the mid- or long-range jumper, as well as finding open teammates cutting to the basket or spotting up on the perimeter. He showed great improvement as a long-range shooter this season, knocking down 43 percent of his 150 attempts, while hitting over half of all his field goal attempts. McKinney has good speed which he uses well in transition, and he has an array of scoring moves which he uses to get to the basket. Defensively, McKinney doesn’t have great size or strength, but he is quick, and was among the nation’s leaders in steals this past season. He has great instincts as a help defender, and he can be very quick to jump passing lanes if an opponent throws a lazy pass.

Keon Moore, 6’5, 190, Winthrop, Guard– Moore was among the top shooters in the country this past season for the Eagles, hitting over 43 percent from three-point range on 234 attempts. The majority of his offense comes from jumpers, usually catch and shoot situations, though he has shown some ability to hit the mid-range jumper off the dribble. He has decent size for his position, though he can develop more physically. Moore is a good enough ballhandler to attack the basket off the dribble, and when he chooses to, he can look to go strong to the rim. He does a good job drawing contact and getting to the line when he drives, and knocking down 86 percent of his free throws is a nice bonus. Moore is an average defender, though he is active and has the ability to play passing lanes well.

Le’Bryan Nash, 6’7, 235, Oklahoma State, Guard/Forward– Nash has never really lived up to his promise as a McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school, though he has shown nice improvement over the past two seasons. Long and athletic, Nash’s offensive game consists of looking to get to the basket off the dribble, or mid-range jumpers, and his lack of improvement from long-range is concerning. He is a decent ballhandler and he uses long strides to get to the basket, where he can finish in some spectacular ways. Nash runs the floor well in transition, and though he can force things, he is also a strong finisher when he gets the ball in a good spot. Defensively, Nash is okay, though he has some bad lapses. He uses his length well to challenge shots on the perimeter and play passing lanes. He also moves his feet well over short distances, but is content to let help defenders bail him out. Nash is a talented player, but he still needs to add parts to his overall game while polishing what he already has.

Stefan Nastic, 6’11, 245, Stanford, Center – Nastic is a skilled low-post player with good footwork and nice touch around the basket. For three seasons he was a role player before taking on a larger part in his senior year. Though not very quick, he uses his body well to seal off defenders in the post. He has the ability to knock down short and mid-range jumpers, as well as being able to face up and make a move to the basket, although not the strongest area of his game. Nastic sees the floor well and can be a good facilitator out of the high or low post, and he uses his length well to get second chance opportunities off of offensive rebounds. Nastic is weak on the defensive end, not really having the strength or quickness to defend the low post or help around the basket. He isn’t as strong on rebounder on defense as he is on offense, and he has had some problems with picking up needless fouls.

Maurice Ndour, 6’9, 200, Ohio, Forward– Ndour, a native of Senegal, has been among the MAC’s top big men since transferring from junior college. Long and athletic, with good ballhandling skills and shooting ability for his size, Ndour can be a tough cover for many forwards or centers. He has the ability to step out to the three-point line, where he hit 43% of his 62 attempts this season, while also showing the ability to hit a mid-range jumper off the dribble. He can be a bit wild at times when looking to get to the basket, and turnovers have been a problem, but he also has shown some decent passing ability out of the post. Ndour is a good rebounder on both ends of the floor, though is lack of strength can hurt him while he relies on his length and leaping ability too much. The lack of strength hurts him on defense as well, though he plays with a frenetic energy which allows him to make plays, and also recover when he gets beat. Ndour is a good shot blocker and has done a good job getting his anticipation and timing down a bit better. Ndour is still raw in a lot of ways; his game isn’t very polished, but he makes up with it with his energy and his consistent improvement every time he plays.

Youssou Ndoye, 7’0, 245, St. Bonaventure, Center– Another native of Senegal, Ndoye did not start playing competitive basketball until he was seventeen years old. He has improved consistently over his four years of college, culminating in averaging a double-double (11.8 pts., 10.1 rebs.) this past season. He is turning into a solid back-to-the-basket post player, using his body well to establish position, and showing the ability to make a move over either shoulder. His touch around the basket is still a bit spotty, but he has developed a semi-reliable hook shot. Ndoye relies on using his strength to establish deep position where he can just turn for a short, easy shot at the rim, as his footwork is still a work-in-progress. He is very good on the offensive boards, and though he can have some trouble converting put backs, he does create extra attempts. Ndoye has improved a lot on the defensive end, showing much better footwork and use of his body, as well as nice knack for timing on his shot-block attempts. Ndoye should be one of the more intriguing prospects at Portsmouth as there is still a lot of potential that is untapped in his game.

D.J. Newbill, 6’4, 210, Penn State, Guard – Newbill, the Big 10’s leading scorer this past season, almost single-handedly kept the Nittany Lions in games this year. He was a very good ballhandler in pick-and-roll situations this year, using the screens well to create his own shot, or finding teammates rolling to the basket or spotting up on the perimeter. He has a very good first step, and good acceleration when driving to the basket. Newbill looks to push the ball in transition when the opportunity is there, and he has shown to be a strong finisher at the basket. His jumper has improved, though he can be inconsistent and miss a lot of open looks. He did knock down 37 percent of his 165 attempts from long-range this season. Newbill is an average defender, but he does contain well on the perimeter, and though he takes some chances, they were often needed to give his team a spark. Newbill’s overall numbers won’t really impress, but Penn State relied on him to carry much of the team’s offensive burden. He can be a more effective player when surrounded by more talent.

Saah Nimley, 5’8, 158, Charleston Southern, Guard – Nimley is small, but extremely quick, and he showed little problem getting defenders to play on their heels hoping he won’t drive right by them. He is very aggressive with the ball, and he thrives from looking to get into the defense and draw contact. Though Nimley was among the nation’s top scorers, he is a high volume-low percentage shooter, and he has a bad habit of forcing a shot with the first decent look he gets. He creates well off the dribble for himself and teammates, but he forces things there as well. Nimley took a remarkable 307 three-point attempts this season, though he only hit 36 percent of them. He does a great job creating the space and time he needs for his jumper with his dribble. Defensively, Nimley relies on his speed, though he doesn’t present much of a challenge for bigger guards.

Gabriel Olaseni, 6’10, 225, Iowa, Forward/Center – Olaseni, the Big 10’s Sixth Man of the Year, has been a solid contributor to the Hawkeyes the past two seasons. He is an energy player, providing his team a spark on defense and rebounding, while he also showed some improvement on the offensive end this year. He is not a very polished low post player, but he uses his size and footwork well to get good shots, and he has no trouble drawing and finishing through contact. Olaseni runs the floor well for his size, and he needs to be watched when streaking towards the basket on the fast break. He likes to hit the glass on both ends of the floor, and he has become a solid defender over his college career. He has the ability to protect the rim, and he has a nice ability to cover a lot of ground quickly to help on defense when needed.

Royce O’Neale, 6’6, 215, Baylor, Guard– O’Neale has developed into a nice role player for the Bears, giving them a big guard who can stretch the floor with his shooting ability, plus the skill and ability to get to the basket or crash the offensive glass. O’Neale hit 44 percent of his three-point attempts this season, which made up about half of his field goal attempts. Though not a great ballhandler, O’Neale uses long strides to get by his man and to the basket, and while not a great finisher, he is aggressive and looks to make something happen when he gets the ball. O’Neale has also shown nice ability as a passer, especially off the dribble or flashing to the high post. He is an improved defender, and he uses his length well to challenge shots on the perimeter. O’Neale has good instincts and awareness, and while not quick enough to make a lot of plays, he doesn’t get himself beat very often either.

Corey Petros, 6’10, 255, Oakland, Center– Petros has been a solid player in the post for the Golden Grizzlies the past four seasons, and he has developed into a consistent threat when he gets the ball down low. Petros uses his body well to get position in the low post, and his improving footwork has allowed him to become an efficient scorer. He has a nice hook shot which he has little trouble getting off, and while not a very good ballhandler, Petros can make a quick move to the basket when given some space. Petros does have some serious problems at the free throw line, hitting just above 50 percent on his career. Petros is not a very good defender, though he does have the size to battle for position on the blocks. He can be slow to help around the basket, and he hasn’t shown much ability as a rim protector.

JayVaughn Pinkston, 6’7, 235, Villanova, Forward– Pinkston has played as an undersized power forward for the Wildcats over the past four seasons, though he has the strength to still be effective. Most of Pinkston’s offense is around the basket area, posting up, crashing the glass, or cutting to the rim. Though he doesn’t have the greatest touch, he has the ability to score through bigger defenders and he uses his strength well to create the space he needs to get a good look. Pinkston’s shooting has never really improved since he got to Villanova, but he rarely goes away from his comfort zone in the lane. He uses his body well to rebound on both ends of the floor, often moving much bigger opponents to clear out space. Pinkston never stood out defensively, though he worked hard and showed some versatility. He helped the team a lot with his willingness to box out and rebound, and though the numbers weren’t very big, he always helped by clearing out space for others to rebound.

T.J. Price, 6’4, 223, Western Kentucky, Guard– Price put together a very good all-around season for the Hilltoppers, leading the team in scoring and assists, while also improving his shooting. Price knocked down 41 percent of his three-point attempts, and he showed he could shoot effectively off the catch or dribble. He has the ability to run the offense, or play off the ball, and he has a solid build which allows him to get to the basket and handle contact. Price showed improved ability as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, making good reads, and coming off the screens well to create space for his shot. Price is a decent defensive player, though nothing really stands out other than his willingness to rebound. He can be slow to react on one play, but make a solid stop on the next, so he needs to work on his consistency.

Levi Randolph, 6’5, 208, Alabama, Guard – Randolph showed a lot of improvement in his senior season, especially with his ability to create offensive chances for himself and teammates. He used screens well to create space for his jumper, and though he doesn’t have great vision or passing ability, he was able to find open teammates when drawing the defense. Randolph has never really been a threat as a long-range shooter, shooting between 34 and 35 percent each of the last three seasons. Instead, he liked to work his way into the defense and look for opportunities to get to the rim or pull up for a shorter jumper. Randolph is very athletic, and he uses that ability well on the defensive end. He moves his feet well, anticipates movements, and plays passing lanes. Though never a standout player, Randolph was consistent at what he does well.

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Portsmouth Invitational Tournament Player Preview – Part III

By Ed Isaacson | Apr 9, 2015

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