THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603160121
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
A third-team All-American player and two more all-conference players have accepted invitations to play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament next month.
The four-night PIT will start on Wednesday, April 3, in the Churchland High School gym.
Invitations have been accepted by Texas Tech's Jason Sasser, Mississippi State's Darryl Wilson and Georgetown's Jerome Williams.
All three are playing in the NCAA Tournament.
Sasser, the third-team All-American, sparked Texas Tech to a 28-1 season. He led the Red Raiders in scoring with a 19-point average. He also pulled down eight rebounds per game and averaged 2.9 assists.
Wilson was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference pick, helping Mississippi State to upend Kentucky in the Southeastern tourney. The Bulldogs posted a 22-7 overall record.
Wilson is Mississippi State's leading scorer with a 17.8 average. He made 39 three-point goals during the season and averaged 3.1 assists.
Williams is Georgetown's rebounding leader with an average of 8.7. He maintained a 10.9 scoring average in the Big East as Georgetown compiled a 26-7 overall record.
PIT officials are awaiting acceptances from numerous other players who are involved in post-season play. A spokesman said it was possible the field may include 50 players who will be competing in either the NCAA or the NIT tournaments.
Those confirming earlier they would play included Duke's Chris Collins, Vanderbilt's Frank Seckar, Arkansas-Little Rock's Derek Fisher, Iona's Mikkel Larsen, Arizona State's Ryan Raleigh, James Madison's Darren McLinton, Texas Southern's Kevin Granger and Hampton University's JaFonde (J.J.) Williams. Granger is the nation's leading scorer with a 28.5 average. Williams was the top scorer among Virginia players.
The 64-player PIT field will be completed and teams selected at a drawing party on noon Friday, March 29 at The Max.
PIT tickets are on sale and can be purchased at any TicketMaster outlet. Tickets can be charged by phone (671-8100). For individual ticket information call 393-5144. For group tickets call 446-6827 or 393-2559. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Wilson was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference pick, helping
Mississippi State to upend Kentucky.
by CNB