Video: Michael Porter Jr. highlightsNational Player of the Year frontrunner adds state title to his resume.
Nathan Hale (Seattle) went 3-18 last season. Prior to the 2016-17 campaign, the Raiders hadn't played in a state tournament since 1994.
With a 68-51 win over Metro League rival
Garfield (Seattle) on Saturday night in Tacoma, Nathan Hale wrapped up an unbeaten 29-0 season and could be on the verge of being crowned national champions, as well.
Once again it was MaxPreps National Player of the Year frontrunner
Michael Porter Jr. leading the way. The 6-foot-10 senior, regarded by some as the top prospect in high school basketball, scored 27 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.
The future Washington Husky put an exclamation mark on things with a thunderous alley-oop dunk off the backboard to himself with 37 seconds left.
Sophomore guard
P.J. Fuller added 12 points and four assists while Porter's younger brother,
Jontay, contributed 10 points and five rebounds.
Saturday's championship game victory was Nathan Hale's fourth of the year over Garfield, which won state titles in 2014 and 2015 and reached the semifinals a year ago. The Bulldogs would have been favored to capture their third crown in four years if not for the arrival of the Porter family from Missouri over the summer.
The Raiders have been ranked No. 1 nationally for nine weeks following their win over
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) in the final at the Les Schwab Invitational.
There's been no indication what the program's plans are in relation to Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals, a tournament in New York designed to crown a true national champion in high school basketball.
Michael Porter Jr. (left) celebrates with teammates and head coach Brandon Roy after defending Garfield in the state championship game Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome.
Photos by Vince Miller
Michael Porter Jr. of Nathan Hale drives to the basket while surrounded by three Garfield defenders.
