Ghanaian basketball player, Nathan Mensah, is on his way to becoming a professional after receiving an invitation to compete in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
The tournament is one of two pre-NBA draft competitions eligible to only players who completed their senior seasons in the immediate past US Men’s College basketball season.
6-foot, 10-inch, Accra-born Mensah just completed his senior season at San Diego State University where he played a starring role on the defensive end in the Aztecs’ historic run to the National Championship final.
San Diego lost 59-76 to University of Connecticut in the final but Mensah’s performance to knockout the top-seeded University of Alabama caught the eye to earn an invitation to the Portsmouth Tournament.
San Diego beat Alabama 71-64 with Mensah registering five blocks, four points, a steal, an assist and eight rebounds in 22 minutes and in an interview with the San Diego Tribune, Mensah, stressed how important the encounter was in raising his and the team’s profile in the United States.
“The Alabama game really put me and our team on the map, because no one expected us to do that. It’s kind of like a job interview; a chance to show my skills and show others who have not been able to see what I can do besides being a defensive player. There are a lot of eyes on you, which is all you can hope for. All we need is an opportunity to exhibit what we have, and I’ve been granted this opportunity.”
Mensah is aiming to become the second Ghanaian-born player to be drafted into the NBA with the first being Ben Bentil in 2016.
