If back issues subside, Missouri Tiger could be the big ticket in the 2018 draft class.
Video: Michael Porter Jr. high school highlights2016-17 MaxPreps National Player of the Year in action.How quickly they forget.
Pre-back issues at Missouri,
Michael Porter Jr. was
the man in high school basketball's Class of 2017.
The 6-foot-10 forward authored one of the most dominant senior seasons in recent history en route to MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors, leading a program that won three games the year before to an undefeated national championship. He averaged over 36 points and 13 rebounds per game.
Along the way there were wins and dominant individual performances against fellow draft prospect Marvin Bagley III and Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) as well as perennial power Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.).
Read on for a closer look at what Porter's high school career might tell us about his NBA future.
Prospect Report Card – Michael Porter Jr.
Stats/Accomplishments: Piled up over 3,400 career points. State championships at Father Tolton in 2015-16 and Nathan Hale in 2016-17.
Outstanding Achievement: Controversy followed Porter's transfer from Father Tolton to Nathan Hale after his father was hired as an assistant coach under then-head coach Lorenzo Romar at the University of Washington. Several others joined him in transferring to play for Brandon Roy at the Seattle school. Porter and his cohorts transformed a team that went 3-18 in 2015-16 to an unbeaten state and national champ that tore through the always-tough Metro League in unprecedented fashion.
Needs Work: In addition to questions about his back (and hip, as of late), Porter's desire and toughness have come into question. But that's an unfair knock for those who saw him play as a senior at Nathan Hale know. He carried himself like a star and looked like he was on a mission to show he was the best player in the country every time out.
Best Fit: Outside of Cleveland (if LeBron stays) and Philadelphia, every team drafting in the Top 10 would benefit from the potential starpower and production Porter is capable of delivering. Dallas would be an interesting landing spot. A new-age Dirk in the Big D?
