<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament has proved to be a steppingstone to the NBA for some outstanding players. Among the players who made their first significant impressions on NBA general managers and scouts at the PIT include John Stockton, Dennis Rodman, Tim Hardaway and Ben Wallace, among others Steve Novak hopes to join that long and stellar list. Novak, Marquette University's standout senior forward, has accepted an invitation to play in the PIT, which runs April 5-8 at Portsmouth, Va. "Steve will be here,'' said Mahlon Parker, the executive chairman of the PIT. "I can tell you he's filled out the papers and signed them.'' The PIT will consist of 64 college players, most of them who are considered late-first or second-round choices in the NBA draft in June. Many of the participants who don't make an NBA roster usually wind up playing professionally overseas. The 6-foot-10, 218-pound Novak has already raised the eyebrows of many NBA scouts. He is averaging a team-high 17.4 points a game and is arguably the best shooting frontcourt player in the collegiate ranks. Novak is shooting 47 percent from the field and a lofty 456 percent from 3-point range. He set the Big East Conference single-season record this season with 70 3-pointers, breaking the mark held by Ray Allen, a former Milwaukee Bucks and current Seattle SuperSonics star guard who played at Connecticut. Novak is also shooting .973 from the free throw line- the second-best percentage in the nation. Before the season started, Novak wasn't even on the radar of most NBA teams. But he hasn't steadily gained their attention and is now considered a late second-round selection A strong showing at the PIT, and perhaps later at a pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla., would certainly enhance his stock.</div> Source
You tell me who in the NBA couldnt use a player of his intelligence and bball IQ, at 6-10, who can come off the bench and gun from the perimeter? Not to mention his FT shooting. Look at guys like Matt Bullard, James Jones, Robert Horry (circa now), and Donyell Marshall. Taller guys who can stretch the defense and shoot over smaller wing players. 2nd round guy, but one who can make a roster.
I think he'll definitely help someone in the NBA, he reminds me a little of a poor man's KVH (that just sounds funny). He's the kind of guy who can always help to have as your 8th or 9th man.
