The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Trio Shines At Portsmouth Invitational
4/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 13, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Three UAB players each had impressive performances during the recent 2009 Portsmouth Invitational at Norfolk, Va., which showcased the top collegiate seniors in the nation. Paul Delaney III, who was named to the 2009 Portsmouth All-Tournament team, lost in the championship game to a squad led by Lawrence Kinnard. Meanwhile, Robert Vaden's squad earned a third-place finish in the event.
In addition to Delaney being tabbed to the all-tournament team, Draftexpress.com selected the Decatur, Ga. native to its Portsmouth Invitational First Team (five players). During the three-game tournament, Delaney, led Sales System LTD. to a runner-up finish with an average of 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 31.33 minutes per contest. Additionally, he also shot 45.7 percent from the floor and his 19 free throw attempts (6.3 per game) led everyone in the tournament.
Kinnard's Norfolk Naval Shipyard team won the 57th annual Portsmouth Invitational in a come-from-behind victory. Kinnard played a big role with his team, including recording 12 points and 12 boards in the championship game. Throughout the tournament, Kinnard averaged 9.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.67 steals per game. He also shot 40.0 percent from the floor and averaged 26.33 minutes a game.
Meanwhile, Vaden's team lost to Delaney's team in the semifinals before turning around to capture the third-place game. Despite averaging 23.33 minutes a game for his team, which ranked 46th among the 60 players in the event, Vaden managed to average 12.3 points, 2.3 steals, 2.0 assists and 1.0 rebounds per game. He also shot the ball well from deep, connecting on 45.2 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.
UAB was the only school to have three players from the same school in the tournament, while nine other schools had two players represented.
