This is a recap from the 2023 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament on Toumani Camara.
By Maxwell Baumbach Apr 18, 2023, No Celings:
1. Toumani Camara, 6’6.75” barefoot, 7’.05” wingspan, Dayton
Size, skill, and defensive versatility are king. Toumani Camara has all three.
He was hyper-productive out of the gate, scoring 27 points on 17 shots in his opening game. The 6’8” power wing was clearly in a different class than his peers athletically. He’s strong, he covers ground well, runs fast in transition, and flies off the floor. Over the course of the three games, he averaged 20 PPG, took 5.3 FT a game and hit 93.8% of them, grabbed 11 RPG, and tallied 1.3 SPG and 1.3 BPG on defense. Simply put, he was all over the court and made his impact felt in every way imaginable. Though he was shaky from three (3-for-18 on the weekend), Camara aggressively hunted his shot and the mechanics looked more seamless than they had previously. I was also impressed by how well Camara handled himself as a decision-maker, averaging 2.7 APG to 1.3 TOV. His passing still showed flashes of creativity as it did this past college season, but there was less unnecessary risk-taking. Playing without a true lead guard and alongside a post-up big man for much of the year at Dayton, Camara looked excellent with reliable set-up men and a more open halfcourt. His game as a roller and cutter should look even better on an NBA floor.
There’s no way around it—he needs to continue to be a more efficient three-point shooter. That said, Camara’s NBA-ready frame and physical tools, paired with his feel and motor may allow him to put together a meaningful career even if he reaches a shade below league average. He’s a firm Top 60 guy for me at this stage.
The 2023 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is in the books! Maxwell breaks down the players NBA front offices should be monitoring coming out of the event!
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