The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived: Jontay Porter re-classified to play basketball for Missouri in 2017.
Missouri, which already had a top-10 recruiting class before Porter’s announcement on Wednesday evening, should see its recruiting rank increase into the top five.
Porter, whose highlight reel is stacked, and has kept fans waiting in earnest over his decision since he announced his intent to play for Missouri, has been busy with basketball endeavors, from the Nike EYBL circuit and Peach Jam, to his most recent appearance in Steph Curry’s SC30 Camp.
As early as two months ago, speculation swirled over whether Porter would re-classify and join his brother, Michael Porter, Jr. in 2017 or wait until 2018.
First, the confirmation tweet that has taken Twitter by storm – at least for Missouri fans.
https://twitter.com/JontayPorter/status/895448139150147584
Admittedly, I was a little anxious over Porter’s decision. I was able to at least take some comfort knowing that if he didn’t play for the Tigers this year, then he would definitely be on board in 2018.
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For the most part, that anxiety stemmed from wanting to see Missouri succeed and possibly compete for a national championship, one season removed from a forgettable eight-win season.
We shouldn’t be anxious, anymore. This class of recruits, in addition to the talented athletes returning from last year, will have confidence in each other, while head coach Cuonzo Martin installs a new-look game plan for Missouri.
In a recent interview with Dave Matter of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Martin spoke highly of Porter, stating that he’s cleared the NCAA clearing house, and whose work in the classroom is as impressive as his work ethic on the court.
"We’re very excited about Jontay’s decision, which was a big one for him and his family. Jontay is certainly a talented basketball player, but his outstanding work in the classroom should not be overlooked. The ability to reclassify requires a serious commitment to your academics. Jontay is a young man who takes pride in being a great teammate and communicator. He has the skill and knowledge of the game to contribute from day one, at both ends of the floor. This is a homecoming for Jontay, who is already extremely familiar with Columbia, and we’re thrilled to have him in the Mizzou Basketball Family."
Now that Porter’s re-classification is official, speculation of how long he will stay in Columbia will probably start. At the very least, we will wonder whether Michael Porter, Jr. will stay an extra year at Missouri.
More likely than not, Michael Porter, Jr. will be a one-and-done athlete for Missouri, but the good news is, for this year, the Tigers are loaded with talent, and have as good an opportunity to make a legitimate stake to be national champions as anyone. Now that the wait is over, we can focus on Missouri football, at least until November.