2026 Portsmouth Invitational (PIT) Standouts

A retrospective on the top performers at the 76th annual Portsmouth Invitational

The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), one of the NBA’s premier pre draft events, concluded its 72^nd session on April 18th. With early entries to the NBA draft nearing all time low levels as a result of NIL, the senior-laden PIT looked to fill the gap, proving its resilience in the face of time and boasting one of the most competitive fields in recent memory. As we watch the G League Elite Combine and look ahead to Chicago, it is important to reflect on the players who made a name for themselves and/or raised their stock at Churchland High School. The following PIT participants separated themselves from the pack (or are simply receiving another look), and are currently in battle at the G League Elite Camp:

Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech

Rafael Castro, George Washington

Zach Cleveland, Liberty

Quadir Copeland, NC State

Melvin Council Jr., Kansas

Tre Donaldson, Miami (Fl)

Jaden Henley, Grand Canyon

Xaivian Lee, Florida

Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State

Robert McCray V, Florida State

Mark Mitchell Jr., Missouri

Malik Reneau, Miami (Fl)

Kowacie Reeves Jr., Georgia Tech

Jaylen Sellers, Providence

Seth Trimble, UNC

Cade Tyson, Minnesota

Ernest Udeh Jr., Miami (Fl)

While many narratives prevailed at this year’s PIT due to the ever changing climate of NIL, with some murmurings as to whether several of this year’s participants might follow the precedent of AJ Hoggard and return to college, the 2026 class proved to be extremely strong from top to bottom, despite a few last minute pullouts from major conference players. Importantly, the vast majority of games at this year’s event were well contested, with 75% of all contests decided by a margin of 7 points or fewer. With this in mind, let’s dig down and uncover which standouts made a name for themselves at this event.

Melvin Council Jr., Kansas – The PIT’s 2026 MVP did not disappoint, leading Portsmouth Sports Club to a championship with clutch play down the stretch. His critical midrange pullup jumper in game 1, for example, gave his team some cushion late. But, his heroics did not extend only to late game situations. In fact, Melvin Council Jr. was dynamic throughout this event with the ball in his hands, opportunistically looking to push the pace and shifting left to right, keeping defenses consistently off balance. While Council’s decision making was a bit erratic to start this event, with several turnovers in the opening stanza, his ball control improved as the games progressed and he developed chemistry with his teammates.

In terms of his strengths, Council is lightning in a bottle in the open court, attacking at a moment’s notice and applying significant pressure on defenses. It is clear that Council shifts into another gear with the ball in his hands, as his game speed is significantly more dynamic than the PIT’s speed and reaction testing reflect. Further, Council’s rangy length, measured at a 6’9.5’’ wingspan according to official PIT Anthros, enables him to rebound (5.7 rebounds per contest was top 20 at this event) amongst the trees on the defensive glass and then accelerate to pressure the rim, opening up the ever valuable trail 3pt shooter. His decision making is extremely effective in transition, and he readily finds open shooters and rim runners ahead of the pack.

In the halfcourt, Council sports a shifty handle and utilizes it to probe defenses, finding creases and attacking at a moment’s notice. Specifically, he employs a lot of hesitation moves and a dynamic crossover to keep the opposition off balance. At the PIT, Council was deliberate with his penetration, not allowing the ball to sit in his hands for too long, instead rotating it side to side. He often drove right and then reversed it opposite for either the open corner 3, or a hockey assist with the extra pass, depending on the coverage. Council displayed good body control and showcased an array of crafty finishes at the rim. Judging by his PIT performance, it is evident that Council’s game is best suited for the pros, where spacing and pick and roll serve as focal points. Importantly, Council played with patience these three days, utilizing screens set by Ernest Udeh, and allowing him enough time to re-screen when defenders converged. In general, with regard to his decision making at the PIT, Council’s 6.3 assists per contest came in a variety of different ways, all of which will translate at the next level.

Despite his obvious strengths as a lead guard, Melvin Council must continue to improve his three point shooting, in order to keep defenses honest at the next level and open up driving lanes. Unfortunately, Council’s 2-for-8 performance at the PIT from 3pt range, did little to dispel any concern scouts may have had regarding his long range marksmanship. While he appeared to be more comfortable with good lift on his pullup jumper from the FT extended and just in, Council connected on just 33% of these attempts at the PIT, as many were hotly contested fallaway jumpers. With that said, his shooting mechanics appear to be fine, and he made 14 of his 15 free throw attempts at the PIT. If he continues to extend his range and improves his proficiency from beyond the arc, he should be very difficult to contain in the halfcourt. Council could also extend the range on his floater and improve his consistency with this shot, which would take his slashing attack to the next level.

Defensively, Council was a menace at the PIT, utilizing his great size and length to poke the ball away, coming out of no where and chasing down blocks with the game on the line. Council possesses quick hands and good lateral agility, with the length and athleticism to block shots at the basket. While he was generally very sound, not reaching in consistently, he still managed 1.7 steals per contest and many more deflections. Council also did a nice job of defending jump shooters without fouling. The only defensive area where he could stand to improve would be his physicality as a help man at the point of attack, either stepping in to take a charge or guiding the offensive player off his spot and away from the basket.

Overall, Melvin Council Jr. proved to be a revelation at the PIT. There is a lot to like about his game, and if he continues to improve his outside shooting ability and overall decision making in the G League, we might see him as a lead guard in an NBA rotation in a few years.

Jaden Henley, Grand Canyon – Jaden Henley projects as one of the highest upside players coming out of the PIT. Standing at 6’6.75, Henley is a dynamic wing who can serve as a secondary ball handler and defend multiple positions. He flashed the requisite quickness and athleticism to score on all three levels.

On the offensive side of the ball, Henley was able to get to his spots in a variety of ways. He flashed a remarkable handle for someone his size, and often brought the ball down the floor and initiated his team’s offense. More specifically, his handle is dynamic and he possesses a quick crossover and utilizes change of pace and in-and-out dribbles, all of which complement his impressive first step. This, coupled with his penchant for finishing at the rim with either hand, should enable him to find a role as a slasher at the next level. Henley’s body control certainly tantalized scouts and the motor with which he plays really left an impression. Henley applied pressure out in transition or in the half court, utilizing ball screens well. When he got going downhill, Henley was a handful to contain, hanging in the air and finishing through contact at the basket. It is thus no surprise that he frequently got to the line, as evinced by his 13 free throw attempts in 3 games (all of which he made by the way).

In terms of shooting the ball, Henley sported a reliable form on his outside jumper, though he shot under 30% from 3 at this event. While many of his perimeter shots were hotly contested, Henley is going to have to improve his 3pt shot if he hopes to catch on at the next level. With that said, Henley’s ability to opportunistically pullup in the midrange and connect on fadeaway jumpers operating out of the post were both on full display at this event. Henley is able to pullup on a dime off the bounce and connect from the midrange or blow by his opponent and make a play at the basket. His ability to attract defenders enabled him to make plays for his teammates, operating out of the P&R and swinging to open shooters along the perimeter.

On the defensive side of the ball, Henley flashed the quickest hands at this event. He recorded a PIT-leading 3.3 steals per contest, and he did so by picking the pocket of ball handlers, deflecting passes, and simply taking the ball away from post players as soon as they faced up. When he stole the ball or rebounded a missed shot, Henley immediately turned defense into offense, pushing the pace and applying pressure at the rim. In terms of his versatility, Henley can guard multiple positions, potentially defending 1 through 4 at the next level, due to his exceptional foot speed and quick hands. Ultimately, Jaden Henley proved to be one of the highest upside players at this event who should be on an NBA roster next season due to his dynamic defensive ability and offensive versatility.

Kowacie Reeves, Jr., Georgia Tech – Kowacie was a revelation at this year’s PIT and immediately cemented himself as one of the obvious choices to be chosen in this year’s NBA draft. Standing at 6’7” with a 6’10.5’’ wingspan and a 8’8” standing reach, Reeves is a rangy athlete with elite explosiveness and the offensive versatility to catch on at the next level. While Reeves led the entire event in scoring, he also finished 15^th in field goal percentage, demonstrating his remarkable efficiency in scoring the basketball.

Much can be said about the way in which Reeves impacted his team on the offensive side of the ball. Reeves possesses exceptional quickness in the open floor and is difficult to contain getting downhill. Reeves is a capable shooter, who connected on 41.9% of his 21 3pt attempts at this event. He mainly shot it off the catch on ball rotation, but was able to pullup off the dribble as well. Reeves flashed good balance in the lane and is able to raise up and connect from the midrange as well. While Reeves’ handle is not as dynamic as a player like Henley’s, he does not need the ball in his hands to be effective, scoring off of basket cuts, or off ball in P&R possessions.

When he gets to the basket, Reeves is extremely shifty and able to change direction in an instant with an effective Euro step, which he utilizes before leaping above the competition. In the air, Reeves proved to have elite body control and was able to impressively finish through considerable contact with several acrobatic finishes. Reeves was also effective on the defensive glass, corralling 13 boards on this end (5.3 total rebounds per game) and using these to attack out in transition/push the pace.

In terms of his decision making, Reeves was a willing passer at the PIT, finding open teammates along the perimeter. He played within himself, which is obvious, judging by his efficient numbers. His ability to operate as a ball handler in the P&R is a wrinkle I would like to see from his game at the G League Elite Camp and moving forward.

On the defensive side of the ball, Kowacie’s exceptional length, quickness, and explosive run/jump athleticism enabled him to force turnovers with fundamentally sound positional defense. While he did utilize his length to block shots and jump in the passing lanes, Reeves is a dynamic 1 on 1 defender, and does a nice job walling up at the basket without fouling.

Overall, Reeves should hear his name called in this year’s NBA draft, due to his exceptional size, athleticism, and penchant for playing efficient basketball.

Ernest Udeh Jr., Miami (Fl) – Overshadowed by teammate Malik Reneau at Miami (Fl), Ernest Udeh came in with modest expectations, but significantly outperformed them at the PIT and placed himself firmly into NBA consideration. While Udeh’s numbers at this event do not jump off the page, his activity level and motor significantly stood out, and it is no surprise that his team took home the trophy.

When discussing Udeh’s prospects at the next level, it is clear that his most significant impact will come on the defensive side of the ball. Udeh is an elite rim protecting big, with the length and run/jump athleticism to be a difference maker off the bench as a professional. According to PIT Anthros, Udeh measured at 6’10.75’’ with a 7’4.5’’ wingspan and a 9’3 standing reach. At 262 lbs, he finished in the top half of players at the PIT event in the reaction shuttle as well as the ¾ court sprint, and this was evident in play as well. Udeh switched onto Nijel Pack and Boopie Miller and was able to hold his own laterally, staying with Pack and poking the ball away from Miller. Udeh’s switch-ability, so to speak, is going to be pivotal at the next level, where he will be tasked with guarding some of the top athletes in the world. His ability to disrupt smaller guards on the switch at 262 lbs portends a future on an NBA roster.

Additionally, Udeh proved to be dynamic as a rim protector, walling up and blocking shots at the apex. Most notably, he rejected uber athletic Jordan Riley’s dunk attempt and demonstrated good verticality turning away Tre White at the basket. In terms of awareness, Udeh displayed good floor awareness and was able to help when his teammates were out of position. He closed out on several three point shooters and forced misses due to his length and athleticism. This will be a strength at the next level, and he certainly will be able to change shots. The only significant defensive lapses occurred on rare occasions where he was late to a perimeter close out, but this coincided with tired legs late in the 2^nd game. In the post, Udeh matched the physicality of whoever he was tasked with guarding, and hustled down the floor. He was dynamic getting his hands in passing lanes, as well as deflecting it away from the opposition, and his steals/deflections led to multiple turnovers. While Udeh’s productivity was definitely respectable with 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per contest, it significantly understates his presence on this side of the ball due to his impact changing shots and deflecting it. Importantly, Ernest Udeh is an elite defensive prospect with the strength to chest his man outside the paint and defend anything around the basket.

On the offensive end, Udeh’s impact far exceeded his meager 7.7 points per contest at the PIT. While he is still extremely raw, Udeh flashed considerable potential in the pick and roll and out in transition. Importantly, teams at the next level will utilize Udeh as a screen setter and roll option. He is extremely quick out of his rolls, and was missed on multiple instances, where he would have had wide open dunk attempts. He was savvy enough to ghost screen at times and flashed the footspeed to blow by his man getting to the basket. Even less acknowledged, Udeh played with an extremely high IQ on the offensive side of the ball, working tirelessly to rescreen his guards and set them up for easy driving lanes. Additionally, he consistently sealed his man on box out attempts or post ups to create an open driving lane for his teammates. Udeh was the unsung hero with his ability to free Council up and get him going downhill.

Out in transition, Udeh hustles down court with the fluidity of a guard and consistently applies pressure on the defense, which can lead to open trail 3’s. His consistent motor down court really separated him from many of the big prospects at this event. Further, when he was rarely given the ball, Udeh did make positive decisions, finding open teammates on the perimeter. While his ability to attack the basket is clearly not as developed, he flashed an impressive Euro step move on one occasion. He was also crafty finishing around the rim as soon as he secured an offensive rebound or corralled a loose ball. Importantly, Udeh was also dynamic on the offensive and defensive glass, often tipping the ball to himself in traffic (against four members of the opposing team on one occasion) and fully utilizing every bit of his size and athleticism. All in all, Ernest Udeh Jr. is a prospect that does all of the little things to help your time win. It is no surprise that he received an invite to the G League Elite Camp, as a savvy team with a dynamic guard who looks to get downhill could really use his services.

Tobi Lawal, Virginia Tech – Lawal was the talk of the town at the PIT and may have improved his stock more than any player at this event, despite his lack of an invite to the G League Elite Camp. Do not be surprised if he is instead invited to the combine in Chicago outright. And it is easy to see why. Outside of his stellar play at the PIT, Lawal measured in with a 6’11 wingspan and proved to far and away be the most impressive athlete at the event. Lawal posted lane agility and reaction shuttle times competitive with any guard, and sported a 40.5’’ vertical leap, second overall only to Seth Trimble. While these metrics really separate him from the pack, Tobi Lawal’s improved 3pt stroke and effective face up game portend a future at the next level.

On the offensive side of the ball, Tobi flashed better ball skills and looked to attack from the perimeter. Importantly, Tobi connected on 5 of his 12 3pt attempts at this event, doing so pulling up off the bounce or off the catch. He displayed good balance on his shot attempts and when he did not shoot it, he was able to opportunistically get in the lane and finish at the basket or draw the foul. While he already flashed his ability to operate as a pick and roll option at Virginia Tech due to his speed and run/jump athleticism, Lawal is more than just an athlete. His ability to stop on a dime and pivot before getting into his turnaround jumper showed me that he can become a dynamic player down the line if he puts in the work in the G League. As already noted, Lawal thrives in the P&R, due to his great quickness and ability to slip screens to the basket, finishing with thunderous dunks which energize the entire arena.

With that said, Lawal’s decision making was a bit of a mixed bag at this event, but this just shows he is still developing. It also reflects that he was utilized differently in college. While Lawal can handle the basketball from the three point line on in, he tended to make poor passes when he tried to feed his teammates mid move instead of playing off two feed. Lawal will need to improve his balance if he hopes to reach his enormous potential. Still, Lawal looked to find open teammates along the perimeter and was a willing passer in transition.

On the glass, Lawal was dynamic with his length and leaping ability. While he could stand to add more muscle to his frame, Lawal’s rangy strong physique enabled him to compete on both the offensive and defensive glass. Defensively, Lawal possesses the length and foot speed to defend guards on switches, and the quickness and strength to compete with bigs. As mentioned earlier, he will need to add his strength to his frame in order to compete at the highest level.

All in all, Tobi Lawal is one of the most intriguing prospects at this year’s PIT, and he is firmly on NBA teams’ radars.

Lajae Jones, Florida State – After a slow start in game 1, where he was virtually nonexistent on both ends of the floor, Lajae Jones ultimately turned things around and secured a spot as one of the top prospects at the event. While he did not receive an invite to the G League Elite Camp, this may be based on his work in the first two games. Importantly, Jones played efficient, winning basketball, turning to his strengths and impacting the game on both ends of the floor. In terms of his physical metrics, Jones stands at 6’6.75’’ with a 6’7.5’’ wingspan, and weighs 228 lbs. While his traits are average for a wing in today’s NBA, he does look the part and possesses the strength to play at the next level.

Offensively, Jones showcased his ability to get to the basket and finish through contact. Jones flashed a decent handle and used it to get to his spots. His fadeaway jumper was extremely effective at the PIT and he was also able to step in and make plays off of it. While he appeared most comfortable from the midrange, Jones can step out and hit the perimeter jumper. With that said, he was 3 for 12 from beyond the arc at the PIT, mostly off the catch, and shot just 32.5% from 3 at Florida State. As such, his long range shooting is definitely an area he will need to improve on if he hopes to crack an NBA roster one day. Despite this, Jones was remarkably efficient finishing through contact at the rim, despite being fouled most of the time. Importantly, Jones did not force the action and often found open teammates, swinging the ball around the perimeter and utilizing his dribble drives to draw the defense and kick it back out. He also moved well without the ball into open spots, especially when Council and Udeh were playing a two man game. When asked to create off the bounce, Lajae was patient with his screener, and made plays out of the P&R.

In terms of his penchant for crashing the glass, Jones projects as one of the better rebounding wings to come out of this event. He created multiple extra possessions for his teammates on the offensive glass, and this often led to baskets, due to his unselfish play. Jones possesses really good play strength and a nose for the loose ball. On the defensive end, Jones locked down the opposition’s top wings and had several impressive highlight contests at the basket. While he was not especially productive stealing the ball, Jones often tasked himself with locking down the opposition’s top scoring threat, and he did an excellent job of contesting without fouling. Jones also did a nice job of protecting the rim when Udeh was drawn out of the paint. All in all, Jones is a dynamic two way guard with the potential to get his foot in the door if he can continue to improve his three point shot.

Peter Suder, Miami (OH) – The headlines should read ‘Suder the Shooter Shoots up Draft Boards’ after his performance at the PIT. Despite not receiving the initial PIT invite, no single player made more of an impression in the opening games with his heroic play than Peter. Importantly, Suder demonstrated that he can operate as an effective weapon in the P&R due to his high basketball IQ, and flashed clutch shooting ability down the stretch.

Situationally, Peter was one of the best at this event of manipulating the defense and playing within himself, as evinced by his 5-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio at this event. He was extremely effective in P&R, utilizing ball screens to create space and then either get to the basket or kick opposite on the perimeter to an open shooter. Importantly, Suder played off of two feet, which enabled him to get his man in the air and draw fouls either at the basket or out on the perimeter. While he was not especially dynamic creating advantages off the bounce, he simply made the right play, whether that was rotating the ball around the perimeter, or feeding his big with a pinpointed pocket pass.

Suder was creative off the bounce and proved to be effective drawing contact. He was dynamic utilizing shot fakes to draw defenders in the air. His 23 free throw attempts were the most at this event, and very little came easy for him, with teams zeroing in on him after his initial outing.

In terms of his shooting, Suder’s 35.3% from 3pt range certainly understated the threat of his perimeter shot at this event, as he utilized it to get downhill and create for his teammates. Further, in his first contest, his four point play to end the 3^rd quarter created the momentum shift that carried over and won his team the game. Once that happened, Suder willed his team to the victory with outstanding play. While Suder flashed good range and balance on his jumpers, Suder proved to be a capable midrange shooter who can rise up at a moment’s notice and connect.

On the defensive side of the ball, Suder was better than advertised, and many of his 1.7 steals per game led to plays on the other end of the floor. Suder displayed really good hands and flashed good awareness in passing lanes. Importantly, Suder’s 6’8.5’’ length really stands out amongst the guards, and enabled him to deflect the basketball and create turnovers. Importantly, Suder displayed a really good nose for the ball, whether that was collecting deflections or crashing the offensive glass. Suder proved to be one of the most promising guards at this event and it would be very surprising to not see him at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

Seth Trimble, UNC – While Trimble did not have as effective a PIT as someone like Malik Reneau, he is highlighted here due to his upside and intangibles. Importantly, Trimble is someone who often coasts at times, not asserting himself and not pressuring defenses until he finds a rhythm. When he did find one at the PIT, he looked like one of the most dynamic guards at this event in his final contest. He also had the most impressive highlight reel dunk.

At this time, Trimble is a secondary ball handler and combo guard. While he does make the right play, he does not function as a pure point guard, creating advantages and moving the defenses. At the PIT, he often opted to find open shooters by facilitating ball movement or reversing it along the perimeter. He rarely probed the D and then looked for cutters. Trimble’s handle is effective, but unspectacular. With that said, Trimble’s willingness to find teammates and create off the bounce is an area that will have to improve at the next level, but there is a lot of room for growth. In his final outing, Trimble posted a 5-to-2 Assist-to-Turnover ratio and readily found teammates off the bounce. It will be interesting to see how he develops as a P&R ball handler in the G League.

In terms of his scoring ability, while he does have a nice looking stroke, Trimble must work on his shooting consistency from beyond the arc, as he connected on 33.3% of his attempts here and 28.6% from 3 with the Tar Heels this past season. Trimble does a nice job of attacking the basket and finishing through contact, due to his excellent run/jump athleticism. Trimble’s 41.5’’ vertical was the top mark at this event and demonstrates that he has a lot of room for growth.

Trimble is a good on ball defender who posted 1.3 steals per contest and was effective poking the ball away from the opposition. As a one on one defender, Trimble displayed good awareness, but was not always assertive on this end of the floor. He did a nice job moving laterally and staying with the opposition, but often led his man into the help instead of attempting to play him straight up. Trimble flashed a high basketball IQ on this end of the floor and understood when to converge on D.

Overall, Seth Trimble is the most enigmatic prospect emerging from the PIT. In terms of a read through from behind the scenes, Trimble was extremely polite and addressed all of the volunteers at the athletic testing by their first names, recalling every name multiple days after receiving the introduction, as if he had known everyone his entire life. Trimble is highly intelligent, personable, and someone who has a lot of potential to achieve his dreams at the next level.

Others Deserving Acknowledgement:

Malik Reneau, Miami (Fl)

Kylan Boswell, Illinois

Nimari Burnett, Michigan

Xaivian Lee, Florida

Mark Mitchell, Missouri