Kansas, Davidson, VMI talents among those scheduled to play in PIT

From the nation's leading scorer and passer to three members of a Final Four squad to the newly crowned slam dunk champion, the 56th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament has an array of players planning to compete next week.

Scouts from the NBA and various other pro leagues around the world will be in attendance when the tournament begins its four-day run Wednesday at Churchland High School.

Standouts include VMI's Reggie Williams, who was been the top scorer in the country two straight years, and guard Jason Richards of NCAA tournament darling Davidson, who dished out 8.1 assists per game to lead the nation.

Kansas' Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun and Russell Robinson, whose will play in this weekend's Final Four, have committed.

The Jayhawks might not be the only players with tired legs when they arrive. Ohio State's Jamar Butler scored 19 points Thursday as the Buckeyes won the NIT title. Arkansas' Sonny Weems also was active Thursday, prevailing in the NCAA slam dunk contest over another PIT participant, Georgetown's Patrick Ewing Jr.

"There are some quality guards from big-time programs," PIT chairman Mahlon Parker said.

Guard Jonte Flowers of Winona State is the lone Division II player in the field. Flowers led the Warriors to the Division II title.

The PIT possesses less of a local flavor this year, as only three players from Virginia schools are involved.

"We love the local players, but it just didn't work out that way," Parker said.

The tournament offers college seniors who hope to extend their basketball careers another opportunity to impress. Carl Landry and Stephane Lasme, who both played in the 2007 PIT, are now in the NBA. Two players from the 2007 all-tournament team, Russell Carter and Adam Haluska, are paying their dues in the NBDL.

Last year's tournament MVP, DaShaun Wood, is in Italy with Tisettanta Cantu, in the top league, Serie A. Also abroad is De'Angelo Alexander, who had a strong showing last year. Alexander is in Romania with CSU Asesoft Ploiesti, the reigning champions in the country's best league.

Despite the evidence that the PIT is an effective means to land a pro job, not everyone is interested in attending. Six or seven players have dropped out since Wednesday, which organizers say is normal. A few more could wind up being replaced by the time the tournament begins.

To Parker, it doesn't make sense.

"I've never seen a kid come in and hurt himself" by playing, he said.