The Force of an Enigma

Just twelve months ago, the college basketball recruiting class of 2017 had a talent from Seattle, Washington, destined for one-and-done success in Missouri Tiger signee Michael Porter Jr. At 6'11 211 pounds, Porter gradually drew comparisons to Kevin Durant as a junior and senior before completing and undefeated final season at Nathan Hale High School enroute to a state title. Then, a weird thing happened that dettered Jr.'s rise to draft stability and the ride on the hype train at the moment; Back surgery.

The back injury suffered in the first game of his Missouri Tiger career put Porter’s collegiate venture on hold until The SEC Tournament where he returned and played in Nashville, Tennessee, before facing off against Florida State during The NCAA Tournament. During the events, Porter Jr. was a mere shell of his high-upside self giving credence to the critic‘s skepticism on if he would ever return to full health again and become the elite prospect he once was.

The injury itself dealt with pain within his herniated discs according to SB Nation which a "microdiscectomy of the L3-L4 spinal disc" helped ease the agony. Fully recovered now in Porter's eyes, he has to eclipse the various exams from NBA teams to ensure his lottery selection spot again. From there, the enigma of MPJ's talent still arises through viewership of game-tape, workout sessions, and overall skill perspective. What type of prospect are NBA players getting in Michael Porter Jr?

Playing on the USA U18 National Basketball Team for the World Championships with now current NBA players such as Markelle Fultz of The Philadelphia 76ers and Jarrett Allen of The Brooklyn Nets, Porter Jr's energy, agility, and motor on defense and transition points impacted the team's games monumentally during their gold medal run. Offensively, his pick and pop game was influential in being the team's key floor spacer while establishment in the interior helped his length overpower the competition and obtain second-chance points.

At Nathan Hale, he was the high school's point forward and interior big all into one. Michael was deemed the designated floor general during a transaction in transition, the shot creator off the bounce in a half-court set, and an interior rebounder around the glass averaging 36.2 points and 13.6 rebounds a game during a 29-0 banner senior year. His upside and effort lauded him as the premier high school prospect of his class further solidifying it with an McDonald's All-American Game MVP and 19 points in 23 minutes during a Team USA vs. The World Team Nike Hoop Summit Game. Yet, during his brief collegiate stint with the Tigers, the flaws within his game came through the cracks while returning from back surgery late in the year. Porter Jr.’s wiry frame needs some atonement and refining to survive at the next level from the abuse he'll face against stronger opposing bigs. While small forward is his perceived label by scouts and many wing hungry teams congested together in the top-half of the draft, Michael Porter Jr.'s on-ball speed defensively and off-the-dribble deft offensively can prohibit him from being an ideal unicorn three man at the next level.

Many 6'11 and 7'0 prospects advancing into the draft have been giving the moniker of KD-Like because they have the anomaly of being a big that can handle the ball in a half-court set or initiate the fast break through a coast-to-coast drive. The thing that separates Durant from just that line unique asset is his guard-like cadence from a quickness perspective off-the-dribble, being able to probe the defense with both hands , and navigating through the three levels of the half-court set while being able to score efficiently and effortlessly within them. Porter Jr. doesn't present that unique skill set just yet, however overtime can develop such talents through work behind the scenes and refinement from respective coaches on his team's coaching staff.

At best, Porter will be put to the test day one of his nba career as a starting small forward for an optimistic nba team. In MPJ's eyes, he still feels his credentials before the injury and his blooming upside now make him the best prospect in the NBA Draft. The opportunity to make the statement into an undenying reality will be given to him, and barring injury, can be exemplified for a decade to come.