I think he’s making a mistake.
It was assumed that Chevon Troutman would be attending the Portsmouth Invitational that starts today. It is a NBA predraft tournament and camp in Virginia. It’s a Senior only event. A camp where Seniors who find themselves on the outside of the 2 rounds of the draft can raise their stock, show they have more than the ambiguous “potential” and get a better idea of what to expect.
The only other major camp is the NBA predraft camp in Chicago in the beginning of June. This is for all draft participants, but by invitation only. This is the one, Carl Krauser is expected to attend. Seniors can attend both (assuming they are invited to the latter).
Troutman has decided to skip the Portsmouth Invitational.
Troutman is concentrating his efforts on trying to win an invitation to the premier showcase for NBA prospects at the NBA-sponsored camp June 7-10 in Chicago.
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The question about Troutman is whether he can evolve into a player who can play away from the basket. At Pitt, he was used almost exclusively as an interior player and rarely had a chance to show that he could shoot from the outside.“I think people out there know I’m versatile,” Troutman said yesterday. “I just haven’t had a chance to showcase my skills on the perimeter. I’m just looking forward to these workouts and doing what I do.”
Troutman does not have any workouts scheduled, but he is in the process of meeting with agents who can help him in that process. Playing football remains an option as well, although he has not worked out for any NFL teams.
Troutman keeps saying he wants to play professional basketball, even if it means playing in Europe, before he considers trying the NFL. The fact that he is skipping the Portsmouth Invitational raises some concerns.
It suggests that maybe he went lax in his workouts and practice after the Pacific loss. That he is only now trying to get back into condition. That would be a red flag for teams.
Troutman ended the season with a thud. In the Big East Tournament he was ineffective against Villanova. Unable to keep up on defense with Curtis Sumpter outside and then in. Not being able to do the job on defense seemed to take him out of the offense. He made no baskets.
It was almost as bad in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Troutman was again exposed as being unable to defend forwards who can take the ball outside and go inside. The NBA is full of those kind of forwards. Troutman is a stay inside around the basket defender. And again, his offense was non-existent when he struggles defensively.
I think Troutman should have gone to Portsmouth to show that his fundmentally sound game is effective and a team would be well served to consider signing or drafting him. Now he is in the position of needing that Chicago invitation or its bust. Teams aren’t going to attend private workouts for a possible late 2nd round pick.
