Every few months the same debate resurfaces about which sport is the hardest to go pro in, especially for athletes who aren’t generational unicorns. That argument can go in circles forever, but one thing feels undeniable. Among the major American sports, breaking into the NBA straight out of college might be the toughest path of all.
Yes, there are dozens of professional leagues around the world, but if you want to make a real living playing basketball and you’re not in the G League, you’re almost certainly boarding a flight overseas. The NBA Draft selects only 60 players each year, a pool that includes international prospects and underclassmen. Even then, several of those 60 won’t make an NBA roster.
Still, that doesn’t mean the door is closed. Plenty of players have carved out their path the long way. Texas A&M fans have seen it firsthand this season with Quenton Jackson, who earned a multi‑year NBA contract with the Pacers, and Andersson Garcia, who recently signed a 10‑day deal with the Utah Jazz. Neither was drafted. Both had to grind through the G League, starting with combines, workouts, and team invites as early as possible.
Now, another Aggie is trying to follow that blueprint.
Rashaun Agee needed only one season in College Station to become a fan favorite and the emotional anchor of a roster pieced together by first‑year head coach Bucky McMillan. Agee helped lead the Aggies to a 20‑plus win season and an NCAA Tournament berth, averaging 14.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game as an undersized post presence in the SEC, good enough to earn Third‑Team All‑SEC honors.
Agee doesn’t currently hold an NBA draft grade, but he’s already taking the right steps to get in front of professional evaluators. His first major opportunity: accepting an invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (P.I.T).
“The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament has invited 64 senior college basketball players from across the nation to compete before professional scouts. Eight teams of eight players play a 12 game tournament over 4 days, with each player hoping to reach their dreams of becoming a professional basketball player.”
For Agee, it’s the perfect stage. A chance to show scouts the same toughness, leadership, and production that made him indispensable at Texas A&M. A chance to prove he’s worth a deeper look. And a chance to begin the long, winding, but very real path that others before him have taken from overlooked college senior to NBA contributor.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M’s Rashaun Agee earns Portsmouth Invitational invite
Reporting by Jarrett Johnson, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
