If you’re wondering which college basketball program has seen its fortunes change the most this offseason, the answer is rather clear:
It’s Missouri.
That tends to happen when you bring in the nation’s top freshman, which the Tigers did in landing Michael Porter Jr.
Now, after suffering its third straight season with 20 or more losses, Missouri is set to begin its rapid ascent up the college basketball ladder thanks to new faces on the sideline and new faces on the court.
And no one will be play a bigger role in that rise than Porter.
Inside the Numbers
Perhaps the most important numbers to focus on when it comes to Porter involve his height.
He’s 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot wingspan, which is an unique advantage in and of itself.
With that said, go ahead and plant this into your brain:
He is far from your traditional 6’10 basketball player.
There’s a reason Porter is the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, and that’s because he’s already found a way to develop himself into the complete package.
Can he use his size to score over defenders in the paint? Yes.
Can he knock down open shots around the perimeter? Yes.
Can he use his athleticism to drive into the lane and score at the rim? Yes.
And that’s just on offense. He should also develop into a defensive asset for Cuonzo Martin in his first year in Columbia.
So, while Porter’s development is far from finished, he already has all the necessary tools to be one of the most dominant players in the country this season.
The question is, how much further progress will he make in what will likely be his only season with the Tigers?
What They’re Saying
“He’s just unique with his size and his ability. He can handle the basketball, he can shoot, and he has great knowledge of the game.
But the thing that sticks out most to me is that his character is off the charts. That’s a testament to what his parents have done with him, and that’ll allow him to continue to grow as a player.
All his skills and abilities are great because he can do a lot of things well, but his character and the type of man he is will be what’s really gonna him help excel further on in his career.” – Missouri assistant coach Chris Hollender on the Marching to Madness podcast this summer
Lovell’s Analysis
It simply shouldn’t surprise anyone if Porter is a first team All-American this season.
In fact, it should surprise people if he isn’t.
The only way defenders will be able to slow him down is by attempting to play physical and making him force shots.
With the SEC earning a reputation for being one of the most physical, hard-nosed defensive leagues in the country, we should see that physical strategy implemented often.
Even then, there’s no guarantees that it’ll work.
There’s something else that’s worth remembering: Missouri isn’t a one-man show. The Tigers have a lot of talent around him, including three double-digit scorers from last season in Jordan Barnett, Kevin Puryear, and Terrence Phillips, and a strong transfer guard in Kassius Robertson.
And let’s not forget about the rest of the dynamic top five freshman class, which of course, also includes Porter’s brother, Jontay.
That means it’ll be difficult for opposing teams to focus solely on stopping Porter. Sure, they’ll focus most of their attention on him, but it won’t be as simple as double-teaming him every time down the floor.
Because of that, few players around the country will command the type of attention that this kid will draw on a nightly basis.
If he lives up to the hype, he’ll help the Tigers complete one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent college basketball history.
For more ’17-18 SEC player previews, visit the preview catalog.