MaxPreps 2016-17 National Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Michael Porter Jr.

Star forward joins list of former standouts that includes Lonzo Ball, Ben Simmons and Kevin Love.

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Apr 4, 2017, 4:00pm
Video: Meet MaxPreps National Player of the Year Michael Porter Jr.
Future Missouri Tiger led Nathan Hale High School to historic season in Seattle.

Can a player be considered a state's greatest ever if he only spent one season there?

That's the debate that will likely go on for years to come in Washington, where Michael Porter Jr. of Nathan Hale (Seattle) authored unarguably the greatest season in state history in 2016-17.

Porter averaged 37.0 points and 14.3 rebounds per game, leading Nathan Hale – a program that went 3-18 a year ago – to a 29-0 record along with state and national titles.

The 6-foot-9 forward's efforts earned him MaxPreps 2016-17 National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Graphic by Ryan Escobar
Arriving in Seattle after winning a state title at Father Tolton (Columbia, Mo.) as a junior, Porter immediately served notice that there was a new court king in town, scoring 42 points and grabbing 18 boards in his Nathan Hale debut.

He went on to put up 52 point against 2016 state runner-up O'Dea (Seattle), 51 against perennial Metro League contender Seattle Prep and 44 in a playoff win over defending state champ Rainier Beach (Seattle).

Porter got it done on the biggest stages, helping the Raiders stun then-No. 1 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) at the Les Schwab Invitational in December and putting up 36 points against Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.

The MaxPreps POY will return home to Columbia, Mo., to play college basketball next season. Porter announced his commitment to the Missouri Tigers on March 24, just days after his father was hired on head coach Cuonzo Martin's staff as an assistant.

Last week in Chicago, Porter solidified his status as a rising star by earning most valuable player at the McDonald's All-American Game.

Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year
2016 – Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills (Calif.)
2015 – Ben Simmons, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2014 – Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2013 – Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.)
2012 – Kyle Anderson, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)
2011 – Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.)
2010 – Harrison Barnes, Ames (Iowa)
2009 – Derrick Favors, South Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.)
2008 – Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
2007 – Kevin Love, Lake Oswego (Ore.)
2006 – Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.)

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