Papa Dia Invited To 59th Portsmouth Invitational Tournament

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Papa Dia Invited To 59th Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
Senior Forward Is a Conference USA Player Of The Year Finalist

March 1, 2011

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (SMU) --- SMU senior forward Papa Dia has been selected for the 59th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament from April 6-9 in Portsmouth, Va. Dia will be one of just 64 college seniors to participate in the event. Fifty-seven former P.I.T. players are on NBA rosters with many others in the top leagues in Europe.

Dia is a Conference USA Player of the Year finalist and a three-time C-USA Player of the Week honoree. He is averaging 18.5 points (4th in C-USA), 9.1 rebounds (3rd) and 2.2 blocks (2nd) with 13 double-doubles (2nd). He also leads C-USA and is 20th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (58.4). In C-USA games, Dia has upped his averages to 20.2 points (2nd), 9.7 rebounds (2nd) and 2.9 blocks (1st).

"We believe Papa is one of the best post players in the country," says SMU head coach Matt Doherty. "An invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational is a great honor and shows that others feel the same way about his ability. He is wrapping up an outstanding career on the Hilltop and has worked hard to earn this opportunity."

Dia, a team tri-captain, has helped the Mustangs stay within reach of a Conference USA title. SMU is 8-6 in C-USA, two games behind first-place UAB (10-4) with two games to play. The eight league wins are already the most for the Mustangs since joining Conference USA in 2005-06. The 17 wins for SMU on the season are the most since 2002-03.

The event is attended by over 200 representatives from all 30 NBA teams and over 100 International Professional League Scouts. The P.I.T. is the only post-season event for college seniors prior to the NBA Pre-Draft Camp and the only post-season event to include game competition.

The Mustangs play at UCF on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT.

[Monkeystang]

Way to go Dia. Good for him.

[wcspony]

This should be a great opportunity for Pap, as he is extremely deserving of this. Hopefully, with C-USA POY Award and a good showing here, he may just be on his way to some sort of position in THE League. Doherty has said that at worst Pap will play overseas and make a ton of $ and is really convinced of his chances in the NBA.