April 4, 2006

Columbia, SC – Carolina forward Tarence Kinsey has been invited to play in the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational Tournament (PIT) April 5 – 8. The 54th Annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is the nation’s oldest amateur basketball tournament, recognized by NBA and European scouts as the premier showcase for future professional players. It is the only tournament for college seniors to participate in and be evaluated by the NBA prior to the NBA’s pre-draft camp in Chicago in June. Follow the tournament online at www.portsmouthinvitational.com.

“Tarence being chosen to participate in the PIT is a wonderful reward for four years of hard work and progress on the basketball court,” said USC Head Coach Dave Odom. “I am certain that he will play well against some of the best talent in the country.”

Kinsey will play on the Norfolk Sports Club team and its first game is against Holiday Inn Portsmouth on Thur., April 6 at 7 pm. He joins Carlos Powell (2005) and Chuck Edison (2003) as the latest Gamecock to play in the Invitational. Powell averaged 12.5 ppg, while Edison averaged 7.3 ppg.

Kinsey finished the season averaging 15.8 ppg and was named to the All-SEC Second Team (coaches). He led the team in free throw % (84%) and three-point % (38%), was second in steals with 1.6 spg and minutes per game at 34.8 mpg and was third in rebounding with 4.6 rpg and assists (2.3 apg). Kinsey was named to the 2006 NIT All-Tournament team, leading USC to its second straight title. Kinsey finished No. 25 on USC’s all-time points list with 1204 points. He finished the year at No. 2 all-time in a season with 1323 minutes played (second only to teammate Tre’ Kelley’s 1330 minutes played) and No. 2 in a season with 37 starts. All told he played in 123 career games (No. 3) and his 602 points this season rank No. 7 on the single season best list. He averaged 9.8 ppg during his career.

The Gamecocks finished the season with their second straight NIT title, defeating Michigan 76-64 on their way to a 23-15 record. Kinsey is one of two on his team from the SEC: Darrel Mitchell of LSU is the other (see roster below for Kinsey’s team). Kinsey and Mitchell are the only two seniors playing in the tournament from the SEC.

NORFOLK SPORTS CLUB (Kinsey’s team)
Coaches: Eddie Webb & Mark Butts

The following is the schedule for the weekend.

Portsmouth Invitational Schedule
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Game 1 – 7pm
Norfolk Naval Shipyard –
Tidewater Sealants –

Game 2 – 9pm (Box Scores)
Portsmouth Sports Club –
Beach Barton Ford –

Thursday, April 6, 2006

Game 3 – 3:15pm TBA

Game 4 – 7pm (Box Scores)
Norfolk Sports Club –
Holiday Inn Portsmouth –

Game 5 – 9pm
MD Designs –
Sales Systems Ltd. –

Friday, April 7, 2006 Game 6 – 3:15pm – TBA

Game 7 – 7pm – TBA

Game 8 – 9pm – TBA

Saturday, April 8, 2006
Consolation Championship Game – 3:15pm – TBA
3rd Place Championship Game – 5:30pm – TBA
1st Place Championship Game – 7:30pm – TBA