The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Cokley, Lee Invited to Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
4/9/2018 10:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following record-setting UAB men's basketball careers, recent graduates Chris Cokley and William Lee have been invited to participate in the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT) April 11-14 in Portsmouth, Va.
A tradition that spans 65 years, the invitational tabs 64 top college basketball seniors from around the country to compete in a four-day, 12 team tournament.
One of two NBA pre-draft camps, the PIT is the oldest amateur basketball tournament in the United States. The top five players from the event are invited to the NBA combine.
"I am honored to have coached both William and Chris. We will be forever grateful for their time at UAB and are excited to see them compete against other high-caliber talent," head coach Robert Ehsan said.
The event provides an opportunity for the players to showcase their skills in front of a bevy of professional scouts from professional leagues around the world, including the NBA.
Cokley – third all-time in UAB history in scoring (1,660) and second in total rebounds (857) – was a consistent force inside for the Blazers throughout his tenure, racking up First Team All-Conference USA honors during his final campaign after finishing seventh in the league in scoring at 16.9 points per game in addition to ranking second with 8.7 rebounds per game.
It was the third postseason award in Cokley's tenure, as he also took home the 2015 Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year award and was named to the second team in 2016.
He was named to the NABC Division I All-District 11 first-team in 2018, wrapping up his final honor in the Green and Gold.
Likewise, William Lee's time on the Southside saw the Selma, Ala. native rack up nine Conference USA awards, including back-to-back honors as the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
He was named to the Conference USA All-Defensive Team for the third-consecutive season in 2017-18, and etched his mark in the record books on January 25th, 2018 when he swatted a shot for a school-record 267th time, surpassing the late Alan Ogg. He went on to finish his career with 292 total blocks.
Lee will be on "Team 6," playing alongside Anas Mahmoud (Louisville), Desi Rodriguez (Seton Hall), Bogdan Bliznyuk (Eastern Washington) and Johnathan Williams (Gonzaga).
Cokley's team has yet to be finalized.
For the latest men's basketball news, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
A tradition that spans 65 years, the invitational tabs 64 top college basketball seniors from around the country to compete in a four-day, 12 team tournament.
One of two NBA pre-draft camps, the PIT is the oldest amateur basketball tournament in the United States. The top five players from the event are invited to the NBA combine.
"I am honored to have coached both William and Chris. We will be forever grateful for their time at UAB and are excited to see them compete against other high-caliber talent," head coach Robert Ehsan said.
The event provides an opportunity for the players to showcase their skills in front of a bevy of professional scouts from professional leagues around the world, including the NBA.
Cokley – third all-time in UAB history in scoring (1,660) and second in total rebounds (857) – was a consistent force inside for the Blazers throughout his tenure, racking up First Team All-Conference USA honors during his final campaign after finishing seventh in the league in scoring at 16.9 points per game in addition to ranking second with 8.7 rebounds per game.
It was the third postseason award in Cokley's tenure, as he also took home the 2015 Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year award and was named to the second team in 2016.
He was named to the NABC Division I All-District 11 first-team in 2018, wrapping up his final honor in the Green and Gold.
Likewise, William Lee's time on the Southside saw the Selma, Ala. native rack up nine Conference USA awards, including back-to-back honors as the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
He was named to the Conference USA All-Defensive Team for the third-consecutive season in 2017-18, and etched his mark in the record books on January 25th, 2018 when he swatted a shot for a school-record 267th time, surpassing the late Alan Ogg. He went on to finish his career with 292 total blocks.
Lee will be on "Team 6," playing alongside Anas Mahmoud (Louisville), Desi Rodriguez (Seton Hall), Bogdan Bliznyuk (Eastern Washington) and Johnathan Williams (Gonzaga).
Cokley's team has yet to be finalized.
For the latest men's basketball news, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballUAB vs ECU Post Game Press Conference
Sunday, March 08
UAB vs North Texas Post Game Press Conference
Sunday, March 01
UAB MBB vs Tulane Post Game Press Conference
Sunday, February 15
UAB MBB vs Rice Postgame
Sunday, February 08
