Portsmouth Invitational Tournament tips off for 72nd year

The 72nd Portsmouth Invitational Tournament tipped off Wednesday, bringing one of the nation’s premier showcases for senior college basketball players back to Hampton Roads at Churchland High School.

Long regarded as a staple of the local sports scene and a key evaluation event in college basketball, the tournament features more than 60 of the top senior prospects in the country. Approximately 200 scouts from the NBA and international leagues are in attendance.

Among the participants is Tobi Lawal, a senior forward at Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball and former VCU Rams men's basketball player. Lawal is coming off a strong senior season in which he averaged more than 12 points and eight rebounds per game.

The tournament field once again features a diverse group of talent, with players representing programs such as South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball, Villanova Wildcats men's basketball, Miami Hurricanes men's basketball, Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball and Michigan State Spartans men's basketball, among others.

Former Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball standout and NBA veteran Kyle O'Quinn, who once played in the event, spoke about the significance of the tournament and the opportunity it provides for players to showcase their skills at the professional level. Lawal also emphasized the importance of representing Virginia Tech on such a stage.