Michael Porter Jr. prospect profile: Backing up the bravado
By Alex Mcewen
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
- OKC Thunder fans should keep tabs on the NBL Blitz showcase
- Alex Sarr steals the show at G-League showcase
- 3 OKC Thunder players who benefit from the 23 Draft class
- Winners and Losers from the 2023 NBA Draft
- OKC Thunder steal one of the best stories of the NBA Draft at pick 50
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