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Fringe pro prospects and the tale of the tape

NCAA Basketball Tournament - Alabama v Creighton

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 16: Gregory Echenique #0 of the Creighton Bluejays shoots the ball over JaMychal Green #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second round of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 16, 2012 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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The Portsmouth Invitational is a nice basketball event, but it’s one most players hope not to be invited to. That’s because it’s a last-ditch effort to get noticed by the NBA for players who aren’t typically high on pro draft boards.

Nonetheless, some familiar names pop up on the annual event’s rosters, and Draft Express did us a favor by posting some measurements from the pseudo-combine’s poking and prodding phase. Some select numbers might point out players who can grab a non-guaranteed roster spot this season.

The Long Arms of the Law belong to ‘Bama’s JaMychal Green, who is 6'7" on the vertical and a stunning 7'2" on the horizontal, and ODU’s Kent Bazemore hangs 6'11" worth of wingspan on a 6'3" body.

For the All-McDonald’s American team, sign up Cincy’s Yancy Gates, who bent the scales at 287 lbs.

First-round NCAA hero Kyle O’Quinn of Norfolk State was just 6'8" in his sock-feet, but his profile as a natural shot blocker remains intriguing. Wichita State’s Garrett Stutz is a legit 6'11".

While none of these guys is standing in line next to the Anthony Davises and Thomas Robinsons of the world, this last-ditch shot at being seen can turn up some interesting possibilities for a pro team with a role that needs filling. Past PIT participants who made the most of the experience include Jeremy Lin, Vernon Macklin, Jimmy Butler and L.A. Laker Andrew Goudelock.