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Norfolk State hero Kyle O’Quinn wins MVP at Portsmouth Invitational

KyleO'QuinnHeadshot

After his team’s enormous upset of second-seeded Missouri in the NCAA tournament, Kyle O’Quinn gave one of the most heartfelt post-game interviews you’ll see.

The kid who got just one scholarship offer, from Norfolk State, earned his moment in the spotlight with 26 points and 14 rebounds against Missouri and, if this past week was any indication, he’s not done yet.

At the Portsmouth Invitational, an annual exposure tournament for college seniors, O’Quinn won the MVP award, going for eight points, 12 rebounds, and six blocks in a championship game loss on Saturday.

O’Quinn is vying for a spot in the NBA and is projected to go in the late second round, according to DraftExpress.

If he continues to build muscle and tone up, as well as develop his skills, he has the size at 6-10, 240 pounds, to perhaps be a contributor at the NBA level.

The Queens, N.Y., native averaged 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in his senior year at Norfolk State.

The Portsmouth Invitational is flooded with NBA and European scouts who are looking for talent to fill their rosters. Temple guard Juan Fernandez signed a deal with an Italian club after playing at Portsmouth this week, a deal reportedly worth somewhere in the “high six figures.”

If O’Quinn is not drafted, he should have options overseas or perhaps in the NBA D-League. He is signed with agent Alberto Ebanks, who also represents former Tennessee forward Scotty Hopson and former Cincinnati one-and-doner Lance Stephenson.

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_