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2018 NBA Draft Prospect Report Part 3: Michael Porter Jr.

By Ricky Scricca

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 7: Michael Porter Jr. #9 of the USA Junior Select Team dunks against the World Select Team during the game on April 7, 2017 at the MODA Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 7: Michael Porter Jr. #9 of the USA Junior Select Team dunks against the World Select Team during the game on April 7, 2017 at the MODA Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich) /
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Michael Porter Jr., United States
Michael Porter Jr., United States /

Michael Porter Jr. has the physical tools of a dynamic two-way player and is arguably the most polished scorer in this draft class. But his season-ending injury has him lost in the shuffle.

While prospects like Oklahoma Sooners guard Trae Young, Arizona Wildcats center Deandre Ayton and Boise State Broncos forward Chandler Hutchison have continued their meteoric rises through the ranks of this draft class, Missouri Tigers forward Michael Porter Jr. has gotten lost in the shuffle.

A back injury suffered at the beginning of the season sidelined him for what will probably be his entire college tenure. Questions about his health and the lack of actual high-level playing time on which to evaluate his talent have caused him to drop out of the top five of many mid-season draft rankings, which would have been unthinkable just months ago.

Porter was the No. 2 overall prospect according to 247Sports.com.

Those concerns are fair. But even before starting at Missouri, Porter gave scouts and fans more than enough reasons to think of him as a potential number-one pick.

Unless the injury is far worse than was led on, none of those things have changed. He can score efficiently from all three levels, handle the ball, pass and create his own shot. Porter has the physical tools to be a versatile two-way player.

Most significantly, he might be the best one-on-one scorer in this draft. Isolation basketball is less in vogue than it once was, but it is still one of the most valuable skills you can find in a prospect. Especially a potential all-star.

All that said, if Porter wants to be successful at the next level, he will need to improve his toughness, improve his willingness to create and fight through contact and improve both his defensive effort and IQ.

Let’s dive into it.