Kyle Hines invited to prestigious Portsmouth Invitational this April

PORTSMOUTH, VA – UNC Greensboro senior forward Kyle Hines has accepted an invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament this coming April 9-12.

This year is the 56th annual tournament, which serves as a showcase for outstanding basketball players in their senior year of college. The P.I.T. is the nation's oldest amateur basketball tournament. It is recognized by NBA and European scouts as the premier showcase for future professional players. In fact, it is the only tournament for college seniors to participate in and be evaluated by NBA personnel prior to the league’s pre-draft camp in Orlando.

The tournament’s history goes all the way back to the days of Rick Barry, playing in the tournament in 1965 following his senior year at Miami (FL). Each year for 55 years the P.I.T has invited 64 of the best college senior basketball players from across the nation to participate in a four-day, twelve game tournament in front of representatives from every NBA team. The tournament drew the attention of NBA Scouts and General Managers in the mid-70's when players like Dave Cowens, John Lucas, Walt Szczerbiak and Bobby Cremins came to Portsmouth to play. Soon the word spread and approximately 200 Scouts, General Managers and Representatives of all 30 NBA teams began to come to see players like John Stockton, Dennis Rodman, Tim Hardaway, Scottie Pippen and others. Today scouts from numerous international leagues have joined in on the annual April pilgrimage to Portsmouth. Over the years the P.I.T. has been a showcase for five of the 50 greatest players in NBA History (Barry, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Dave Cowens, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen) and for many others who have gone on to NBA stardom.

Hines, a 6-6 senior from Sicklerville, NJ, is currently averaging 19.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest, which is second in scoring and first in rebounding in the Southern Conference. He also leads the league in blocks at nearly three per contest, which also ranks him in the Top 15 in the nation. Earlier this week, Hines became just the sixth player to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocked shots in a career, joining David Robinson, Pervis Ellison, Alonzo Mourning, Tim Duncan, and Derrick Coleman. Hines now has 2,091 points, 1,011 rebounds and 330 blocks in his career, which also makes him the 96th player in college basketball history to have 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Currently, Hines has the longest double figure scoring streak in the nation. He has scored 10 or more points in 76 straight games going back to December 16, 2005. He is also fifth among active players in career points, fourth in rebounds, third in blocks and second in double-doubles (43). He holds UNCG’s career records in each of those categories.

Complete rosters for the tournament will be announced in early April.

Hines will have his No. 42 retired prior to UNCG’s game against Chattanooga next Thursday, February 28. He is the first active player in school history to have his number retired.

UNCG will host College of Charleston on Monday, February 25 at 7 pm.

- UNCG -