The 72nd Portsmouth Invitational Tournament concluded Saturday, having begun on Wednesday. The annual event features eight teams made up of top outgoing Division I seniors, with each roster including eight of college basketball’s most notable players from this season.
Portsmouth Sports Club went 3–0 and claimed the title with a 93–86 win over Mike Duman, Inc. After the tournament concluded, KU senior guard Melvin Council Jr. was named tournament MVP, becoming the second player with Kansas ties to earn the honor in the past three years (Tristan Enaruna in 2024).
Across three games, Council Jr. repeatedly delivered in the clutch, averaging 19.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.7 rebounds, highlighted by a 24-point performance in the title game. He took over a tournament that has historically showcased some of basketball’s most prominent figures, including John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Ben Wallace, Dennis Rodman, Rick Barry, Tim Hardaway, and Jimmy Butler.
Council Jr. teamed up with former Jayhawk center Ernest Udeh Jr., with the duo connecting on several big-time plays. Many KU fans online said it felt like an alternate universe seeing the two share the floor nearly three years after Udeh’s departure from Lawrence.
Kansas senior forward Tre White also competed in the tournament for reigning back-to-back champion Jani-King, averaging 10.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across three games. The two KU seniors faced off Friday, with Council Jr.’s squad, coming out on top by a score of 83–66.
Both Council Jr. and White will now look to pursue professional careers after exhausting their college eligibility. Earning the prestigious MVP honor should boost Council Jr.’s visibility and help generate higher interest from pro teams as the Rochester, New York, native begins the next stage of his career.
Neither Council Jr. nor White is projected to be selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, though both await potential Combine invites (May 10–17). Regardless, each is expected to find opportunities at the next level—whether in the NBA Summer League, G League, or overseas.
After a heartbreaking end to the Jayhawks’ season against St. John’s, Kansas fans found it poetic that Council Jr. was able to cap off his college career with a bang.
With the NBA Draft process approaching, what will the next step be for outgoing Jayhawks Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White?
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