Sports

Mitchell Watt lands in an NBA mock draft

blog by Ben Tsujimoto • April 13, 2012 @ 9:20am

Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol…Mitchell Watt? According to NBADraft.net, one of the web’s leaders in NBA Draft predictions, the University at Buffalo men’s basketball star is working his way into the second round conversation.

The website projects Watt to be chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers at pick #60, a telling sign that the MAC Player of the Year is being noticed in national circles. As a Buffalonian, it’s encouraging to see a local product being weighed against high-major players like Kansas’ Tyshawn Taylor, Purdue’s Robbie Hummel, Marquette’s Jae Crowder and Baylor’s Quincy Acy. At the same time, maybe it shouldn’t be so shocking.

Watt jumped out to a quick start at the Portsmouth Invitational, the premier showcase tournament for graduating college seniors to boast their talents in front of hordes of NBA scouts. Placed on a team called “Norfolk Sports Club,” Watt registered 11 points and a ridiculous seven blocks in a team-high 33 minutes despite losing to Portsmouth Sports CL 88-76.

In his second game, the senior Bull kept his team afloat in the first half with 12 points and five rebounds before finishing with 14 and seven. Interestingly, Watt squared off against Ball State’s Jarrod Jones, a MAC rival big man also vying for a spot in the June 28 draft. Norfolk Sports Club plays next at 2 p.m. Saturday.

If you’re late to the Mitchell Watt story, the stalwart senior suffered from debilitating Guillain-Barre Syndrome as an underclassman, but hid the illness from the media and most teammates as he was treated. Blossoming early in his senior campaign due to experience, confidence and 20 pounds of added strength, Watt was consistently the Bulls’ best player in the team’s second-place finish in the Mid-American Conference.

Best of luck to Watt as he continues to wow NBA scouts.

TAGGED: college hoops, mac basketball, mid-american conference, mitchell watt, pit basketball, portsmouth invitational tournament, ub bulls, university at buffalo

Comments

Patrick April 13, 2012 @ 1:04pm

Great article Ben!

You definitely did your research on this one. I think Watt is a great all-around player and should help any NBA team in a defensive sub role in the future. I believe his stats in the tournament are proving this. Best of luck to him! It’s always great to see Big 4 players in contention to make the NBA.

Watt wasn’t the only local player that has played well in the Portsmouth Invitational. Former Niagara University standout, Charron Fisher, led the tournament in scoring in 2008. Unfortunately he wasn’t drafted, but is currently playing at a high level overseas.

I also wonder why St. Bonaventure big man Andrew Nicholson isn’t playing in the tournament?

-Pat
Ben Tsujimoto April 13, 2012 @ 3:08pm

Thanks, Pat. Nicholson opted out of Portsmouth. Some players don’t feel like they have a lot to prove in such a setting—in fact, it might hurt their draft stock by being outplayed by a deemed “lesser guy” like Watt, and some would simply rather just work out.

I’m not sure which of the two is the case with Nicholson, but it’s probably a combo of the two. Wouldn’t shock me if Nicholson gets a late first round guarantee soon from some team.