High Point’s Barbour selected for Portsmouth Invitational

HIGH POINT, N.C. — High Point University senior Nick Barbour has been selected for the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a four-day tournament that showcases 64 of the top seniors in college basketball from April 11-14 in Portsmouth, Va. The 12-game tournament is played in front of scouts and general managers from every NBA team.

“I’m just going in, trying to perform well and get my name out there,” said Barbour. “All of the NBA teams will be there, there will be teams from Europe and other places. I’m just trying to get my name out there and see what opportunities come out of it. I’m only 22 years old, this is just the start for me.”

A three-time All-Big South player, Barbour is just the second Panther to be selected for the tournament. HPU great Arizona Reid played in the tournament in 2008, averaging 15.0 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 50.0 percent in three games. Alumni of the tournament include John Stockton, Dennis Rodman, Tim Hardaway and Scottie Pippen.

The 2012 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament will be played at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Va. Rosters will be announced later this week on portsmouthinvitational.com.

Barbour led the nation in three-point percentage (48.4 percent) and ranked second in three-pointers per game (3.5) while ranking 12th in the NCAA with 20.4 points per game in 2011-12. He is the Panthers’ Div. I career leader in scoring (2,121 points) and holds HPU records for three-pointers in a career (314), in a season (108 in 2011-12) and in a game (10 during the 2009-10 season).

Barbour became the first High Point University player to participate in the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championship when he played in the Hampton Hotels 3-Point Contest last week in New Orleans.