One of the top basketball prospects in the class of 2017, Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr., will miss the rest of the season after he undergoes a lower back surgery. Porter Jr. will have a procedure called microdiscectomy performed in Dallas and will recover for three or four months. Before the injury, Porter Jr. was projected to be a lottery pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, with some analysts considering him to be worthy of a top overall pick. The injury doesn’t only lower his draft stocks but also represents a significant blow for Missouri program which had high hopes following Porter Jr.’s arrival.
“I really appreciate the support of my family and the Mizzou Men’s Basketball program as I begin this process,” – Porter said in a statement. “I’m thankful for all the kind words and messages I’ve received from fans. Those mean a lot to me. I cannot wait to be completely healthy and playing the game I love, once again.“
Being one of the high school top overall recruits, Michael Porter Jr. originally committed to the University of Washington. After his father Michael Porter Sr. was hired an assistant coach for the University of Missouri, Porter Jr. decomited to Washington and joined Missouri.
With Porter Jr., who averaged 36.2 points and 13.6 rebounds per game in his senior year at high school, Missouri hoped that their basketball program will head for revival and could attract more talent. Now, with this injury, Porter Jr.’s college basketball career might be over before it even begun. It is likely that he will still declare himself eligible for NBA Draft, despite not playing in his freshman season at college. There is a glimpse of hope for Missouri, however, since Porter Jr. said before the injury that he isn’t definitely set on leaving college after just one year.
