The Washington Huskies have landed an elite recruit for the second year in a row. Michael Porter Jr., a 6’10 combo forward rated as the No. 2 player in the class of 2017 by Rivals, has committed to Lorenzo Romar and Washington. The Huskies also signed a top five player in the class of 2016 in point guard Markelle Fultz.
5-star forward Michael Porter Jr. commits to Washington
Lorenzo Romar has continued his incredible run of recent success on the recruiting trail.
Jon Lopez / Nike
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Porter’s commitment is no surprise. Romar hired his father, Michael Porter Sr., as an assistant earlier this year after he had spent several seasons as an assistant coach for the women’s team at Missouri where his two daughters played. Porter Sr.‘s younger son Jontay, a four-star forward in the class of 2018, had previously committed to Washington.
Porter Jr. has the talent to be one of the top picks in the 2018 NBA Draft after one season at Washington. He led Mokan Elite to the championship on Nike’s EYBL circuit at Peach Jam and finished second in the league in scoring by averaging 22.8 points per game. He’s a terrific athlete with a developing touch on his jump shot, finishing the grassroots season at 35.1 percent on three-pointers.
Porter is now off to Chile to compete with USA Basketball in the FIBA Americas U18 tournament next week. He will then transfer to playing for Seattle-area high school Nathan Hale for head coach (and former Washington star) Brandon Roy.
Porter could be Washington’s third straight one-and-done lottery pick following Marquese Chriss (No. 8 in 2016) and Fultz, who is projected at No. 2 in our early 2017 mock draft. The Huskies have missed the NCAA Tournament the last five seasons.
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