Coach says Michael Porter Jr. going to Washington will be like LeBron James going to college

Video: Michael Porter Jr. highlights
Missouri transplant has taken Seattle by storm this season.

There was no age restriction keeping high school players from making the leap directly to the NBA when LeBron James came out of St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) in 2003.

If the same rules were in place now, there's little doubt that Michael Porter Jr. of Nathan Hale (Seattle) would be playing professional basketball next season.

Instead, he is headed to play for Lorenzo Romar at the University of Washington.

Ahead of Friday night's Metro League showdown with Garfield (Seattle), Nathan Hale head coach Brandon Roy – yes, the former University of Washington and Portland Trail Blazers great – appeared on Seattle's KJR 950 AM with host Dave Mahler.

According to Roy, Porter at Washington next year will be a glimpse of what it would have been like to see LeBron in college over a decade ago.

"It will be like LeBron James going to college," Roy said.

It might sound crazy but for those that have seen Porter play this season, it's hard to argue.

Porter is averaging over 35 points and 15 rebounds per game this season at Nathan Hale – currently the nation's No. 1 high school basketball team after going 3-18 in 2015-16.

Friday night prior to the Garfield game, thousands of fans – including Seattle rapper Macklemore – lined up for a seat as early as four hours before tip-off. The contest is being broadcast nationally by ESPNU.