Woolbright Competes at Portsmouth Invitational Tournament

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina men's basketball standout Vonterius Woolbright participated in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT) last weekend from Portsmouth, Va…

The tournament which dates back to 1953 invited 64 senior college basketball players from across the nation to compete before professional scouts. The event featured eight teams of eight players that play a 12-game tournament over four days, with each player hoping to reach their dream of becoming a professional basketball player. Over the years of the event, the P.I.T. has welcomed the likes of Rick Barry, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Dave Cowens, Scottie Pippen, Tim Hardaway, Dennis Rodman, Jimmy Butler, and more.

Joined by seniors from California, UNLV, Auburn, Morehead State, Texas A&M, George Washington and Texas, Woolbright averaged 10.7 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 2.7 assists per contest over the three games that he participated in. His best performance came in his third contests where he totaled a team-high 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting with seven rebounds and a block in 28 minutes of action.

Woolbright was one of two from the Southern Conference to be named to the 2023-24 Lou Henson Award All-America Team, honoring the nation's top mid-major players while also garnering selection as one of 30 players to be named to the Lute Olson All-America team.

Originally from Albany, Ga., Woolbright earned a conference single-season record nine SoCon Player of the Week honors, eclipsing the previous benchmark set by former Davidson star and SoCon Hall of Famer Stephen Curry back in 2008-09. Woolbright also swept the league's four monthly awards during the 2023-24. He was additionally a two-time Oscar Robertson Trophy National Player of the Week and was among 40 national finalists in consideration for the trophy and for All-America plaudits from the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

Woolbright averaged a SoCon-best 21.1 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, scoring in double figures in all 32 of WCU's seasonal games. He finished third nationally with 27 double-doubles, ranked behind Akron's Enrique Freeman (31 in 35 games) and Purdue's Edey (30 in 39 games). Among his 27 double-dips were a nation-leading five triple-doubles, matched by Utah's Deivon Smith.

He is the first player in the SoCon to finish the regular season averaging over 20 points per game since VMI's Bubba Parham in 2018-19, while also becoming the first Catamount to average over 20 points per game since Kevin Martin (24.9 ppg) back in 2003-04.

Woolbright ranked 18th in the nation in scoring and was third in overall rebounding, pacing the NCAA with a 9.78 defensive rebound per game average. He was additionally 29th nationally with an average of 5.6 assists per game.

Woolbright now turns his attention and continues to prepare for the 58-pick, 2024 NBA Draft scheduled for June 26-27, 2024. The first round is scheduled for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, with the second round set for ESPN's Seaport District Studios in Manhattan.

Keep track of everything related to Catamount men's basketball and WCU Athletics through our social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@catamountmbb @wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@CatamountMBB @catamounts).

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Players Mentioned

#2 Vonterius Woolbright: G; 6' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#2 Vonterius Woolbright
: 6' 6"; Senior
: G

Schedule

Players Mentioned

#2 Vonterius Woolbright

Players Mentioned

#2 Vonterius Woolbright