April 13, 2009

CHICAGO- UIC senior center Scott VanderMeer (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) returned home after a solid showing at the 57th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, Va. over the weekend.

VanderMeer helped the Sales Systems LTD team, which also featured the likes of Texas A&M's Josh Carter and Notre Dame's Kyle McAlarney, advance to the P.I.T. championship game against the Norfolk Naval Shipyard club that featured Wisconsin's Marcus Landry, Georgia Tech's Alade Aminu and Chicago State's David Holston.

Despite 10 points and six rebounds from the Flames' big man in the title contest, Sales Systems LTD fell short in a 72-69 classic.

VanderMeer averaged 8.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 1.7 bpg in three games. He finished the three-day tournament ranked 11th in rebounding, fifth in blocked shots and fourth in defensive rebounding (5.7 drpg).

"It was fun," said VanderMeer. "I met a lot of great people and played in some good games. I also received a lot of advice and plenty of feedback on what I am strong at and what I need to work on in order to play at the next level."

The four-day event, the oldest amateur basketball tournament in the United States, serves as a showcase of 64 of the nation's best senior college players in front of representatives of every NBA team in preparation for the NBA Draft. Other professional teams in America and overseas are also represented at Portsmouth.

Fans can find results, statistics and more about the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament on the event's official website, www.portsmouthinvitational.com.