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Dave Matter:
COLUMBIA, MO. • Missouri's decision to hire Cuonzo Martin to lead its basketball program wasn't the only coaching move that will impact the Tigers' program. Washington has fired longtime coach Lorenzo Romar. That means prized recruit Michael Porter Jr., the No. 1 ranked high school player in the country for the 2017 class, will be allowed to ask out of his national letter of intent.
Michael Porter Sr., the player’s father, has been an assistant coach at Washington under Romar. A source close to the situation told the Post-Dispatch that Martin will likely hire Porter Sr. as an assistant coach at Mizzou and bring Porter Jr. along with him back to Columbia. The Porters lived in Columbia from 2010-2016 when Porter Sr. worked on the Mizzou women’s basketball staff under coach Robin Pingeton, his sister-in-law. Porter Sr. was unavailable for comment.
Mizzou was among Porter Jr.’s final five college choices when he committed to Washington last year, along with Indiana, Virginia and Oklahoma. On Thursday, Porter Jr. reacted to the news at Washington on Twitter.
Porter Jr. led Tolton Catholic High School to a Class 3 MSHSAA championship last year. The 6-10 small forward now plays for Nathan Hale High School in Seattle.
Former Mizzou men’s coach Kim Anderson offered Porter Sr. a job on his staff last year, but he instead moved to Seattle to join Washington’s staff. Romar is Porter Jr.'s godfather and a longtime family friend. The Porters’ younger son, Jontay Porter, a four-star recruit for the 2018 class, committed to Washington in 2015. He also tweeted reaction to the UW news Thursday, though more subtle than his brother.
Porter Jr. has always bend fond of Mizzou's program. He spent countless hours at Mizzou Arena when his dad coached the women's team.
"He was 11, 12 when we first moved here," Porter Sr. said last year, "and when we first got here, I lie to you not, he was so enamored with these facilities and access that he had, I’m telling you that first month we were here he spent three hours a day here just shooting and playing."
Asked about the prospect of his son playing at Mizzou, Porter Sr. said last year, "We’ll see. You know kids, they get enamored with the cute chick at the moment in terms of programs. Some programs that are really making noise right now have his attention."
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