Recruiting report: Michael Porter (2017)
COLUMBIA — Five-star 2017 recruit Michael Porter says he is still keeping his options open as the high school season winds down. A talented and versatile 6-foot-8 wing, Porter is blessed with both size and athleticism and has a smooth…
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Continue ReadingCOLUMBIA — Five-star 2017 recruit Michael Porter says he is still keeping his options open as the high school season winds down.
A talented and versatile 6-foot-8 wing, Porter is blessed with both size and athleticism and has a smooth perimeter jumper that extends well beyond the 3-point arc. He has been called “Baby Durant” and the comparisons to NBA star Kevin Durant are just a Google search away.
“I think I’m an all-around player, I can score, I can find my teammates, I rebound, I’ve been called versatile and I think that would be a good word to describe me,” Porter said. “I need to tighten up my ballhandling and keep getting stronger.”
Every school in the country has seemingly expressed interest in the talented junior, with some of college basketball’s biggest names in the mix.
“Right now the ones that are really on me are Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Mizzou, Viriginia, Washington and Indiana just to name a few,” Porter said. “I wouldn’t say there is a favorite right now, but hopefully I will make a decision by the end of the summer.”
Porter said he wants to get his college decision out of the way before his senior season. He has made several unofficial visits already.
“I went to Kansas a couple of times and have been to Mizzou everyday because I live there,” Porter said. “Also Virginia and Washington and coach Lorenzo Romar has had an in-home visit.”
It’s been no secret that Porter and one of his closest friends, Norman (Okla.) North point guard Trae Young hope to play together at the next level. The two players have formed a dynamic 1-2 punch on the summer circuit with MoKan Elite.
“We do want to go to school together, but I don’t know if it will happen,” Porter said. “I would say there is about a 75 percent chance that it does because we feel like we feed off each other and we are really good friends.”
Although Porter has established a relationship throughout the recruiting process with Washington, he said his younger brother Jontay’s decision to commit to the school early isn’t really a big factor in his pending decision.
“Lord-willing I will be one-and-done, so I would be gone by the time he got there anyways,” Porter said. “That’s not really to heavy on my mind.”
First, however, Porter and his Tolton teammates have some unfinished business as they seek the schools first state championship. Tolton draws raucous crowds everywhere they go, and the squad recently fell to top-ranked Vashon on the road.
“I like playing in front of big crowds because the energy of the game is much higher,” Porter said. “I’m used to it by now, but it’s always good to see a big crowd at our games.”