Here’s how KU’s Mayo, K-State’s N’Guessan & MU’s Bates fared in Portsmouth hoops
Former Kansas and Kansas State men’s basketball players Zeke Mayo and David N’Guessan helped Portsmouth Partnership claim two victories against one loss at the Portsmouth Invitational
The tournament Wednesday-Saturday tournament was a showcase for college seniors/pro prospects in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Former Missouri Tigers player and Kansas City native Tamar Bates made the 13-member all-tournament team after averaging 16.3 points per game for Norfolk Sports Club, which went 1-2.
Mayo, a 6-foot-4 guard from Lawrence, averaged 11.3 points. He shot 12-of-24 (50%) for the tourney, going 8-of-16 from 3-point range.
N’Guessan, a 6-9 forward from the Netherlands, averaged 8.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in the three games. He hit 11 of 16 shot attempts (69%).
Bates, a 6-5 wing from Mizzou, also made the 13-player all-tourney team after scoring 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting in Norfork Sports Club’s 106-85 win over Mike Duman Inc. on Saturday. He scored 49 points in three games (a 16.3 points-per-game average) while dishing 17 assists and pulling down 14 rebounds.
Bates hit 19 of 33 shots overall (57.6%) and went 6-of-13 from deep (46.2%).
MVP of the tourney was Nelly Junior Joseph of New Mexico. He had 24 points and nine rebounds in tournament champion Jani King’s 98-92 win over K&D Rounds in the Saturday finale.
Bates averaged 13.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 2024-25 for the Tigers. Mayo averaged 14.6 points and 4.8 rebounds with 2.9 assists for KU, while N’Guessan averaged 13.3 points and 7.2 rebounds for KSU.
The Portsmouth Invitational has been in existence since 1953. Eight teams comprised of eight players each played a 12-game tournament over four days. Players who fared well could land invitations to the upcoming 2025 NBA G League Combine and/or the NBA Combine.
A tourney official said 240 NBA representatives and more than 100 visitors from teams overseas attended this year’s event.
This story was originally published April 20, 2025 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Here’s how KU’s Mayo, K-State’s N’Guessan & MU’s Bates fared in Portsmouth hoops."
