Michael Porter Jr. prospect profile: Backing up the bravado

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 16: Michael Porter Jr. #13 of the Missouri Tigers reacts against the Florida State Seminoles during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 16: Michael Porter Jr. #13 of the Missouri Tigers reacts against the Florida State Seminoles during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
1 of 3
NBA Draft - Michael Porter Jr.
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Michael Porter Jr. poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois.  (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Coming out of high school Michael Porter Jr. was a highly touted NBA Draft prospect, but an untimely back injury means he returns with more questions than answers.

Michael Porter Jr could very well be the biggest conundrum of the 2018 NBA Draft. Porter Jr across the board was a top-three recruit coming out of high school. Porter was on pace to be a potential top-5 pick in this June’s draft until an injury robbed the majority of his first and final collegiate season.

Michael Porter Jr as Kyle Singler would say had a bit of a dry year. Due to him being limited to three games at the Mizzou because he injured his back early in the first half of his first game there. Porter’s injury required surgery to repair his L3-L4 spinal discs.

Player specifics

  • Height: with shoes: 6’10, Height without shoes:, 6’9
  • Weight: 211 (LBS)
  • Wingspan: 7’0
  • Position: Small Forward – Power Forward
  • Age: 19.8
  • College: University of Missouri, Freshman
  • Hometown: Columbia, Missouri

More from Thunder Draft

Due to Porter Jr appearing in only three collegiate games with Missouri stats from the 2016 FIBA under 18 Men’s basketball tournament are added to offer additional insight.

  • Points: 15.8 (FIBA ), 10.0 (NCAA)
  • Minutes: 21.1 (FIBA ), 17.7 (NCAA)
  • Rebounds: 5.6 (FIBA ), 6.7 (NCAA)
  • Assists: 2.4 (FIBA), 0.3 (NCAA)
  • Personal Fouls: 1.6 (FIBA ), 2.0 (NCAA)
  • Steals: 1.8 (FIBA ), 1.0 (NCAA)
  • Turnovers: 1.4 (FIBA ), 1.0 (NCAA)
  • Blocks: 1.0 (FIBA ), 0.3 (NCAA)

*all per game statistics

With that, lets proceed to Porter’s skills and weaknesses