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Three former Tigers represent Mizzou hoops in NBA

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 24: Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets poses for a portrait during the Denver Nuggets Media Day at the Pepsi Center on September 24, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 24: Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets poses for a portrait during the Denver Nuggets Media Day at the Pepsi Center on September 24, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
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Today starts training camp for all 30 NBA teams, and three former Mizzou hoops stars are looking to have a great season this year.

Michael Porter Jr., DeMarre Carroll and Jordan Clarkson all played on different Mizzou hoops teams over the years, and now the trio represent the Tigers in the NBA this year.

Porter has the most potential of the three. Once a top recruit out of high school, injuries have pushed back the forward, but he appears healthy now and is ready to attack the season.

Though Porter only played in three games at Mizzou, he was taken with the No. 14 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets took a patience approach with Porter, and sat the forward all last season. He is technically a rookie now, and he’s healthy.

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Porter spoke Monday at media day for the Nuggets, and says he’s excited for next week’s preseason opener.

That’s good to hear. Porter can be an NBA star if he is healthy, and he’l playing on one of the best teams in the league. Because of injuries, he didn’t have much of an on-the-court presence while in CoMo, but he can change his narrative with a big rookie season ahead.

Carroll was traded over the summer to the San Antonio Spurs, so the 11-year veteran now will join his eighth team. Carroll moved from a starter to a backup role in 2018.

Last season, Carroll logged 25 minutes a game, scoring 11.1 points with 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per. Every statistic was down from the year before when he was with the Nets, so a change of scenery might do well for the 33-year-old forward.

For his career, Carroll has averaged 9.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Known as the “Junkyard Dog” while at Mizzou, Carroll has lived up to his potential since he was drafted in the first round in 2009 by the Memphis Grizzlies.

https://twitter.com/DeMarreCarroll1/status/1178817891799588864

As for Clarkson, there have been numerous rumors that the now six-year veteran will be traded sometime this season.

Clarkson was dealt from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, and has done a solid job coming off the bench over the past year and a half. But the Cavaliers are deep at guard right now.

He’ll return to that same reserve role this season, and likely is the first guard off the bench for the Cavaliers. Clarkson hasn’t started a game yet in Cleveland, but he has averaged more than 15 points over he past two seasons.

dark. Next. Mizzou football to play Ole Miss on homecoming at night

Former Mizzou hoops player JaKeenan Gant signed with the Indiana Pacers this summer as an undrafted free agent. Gant left Mizzou after two years and played his final two years at Louisiana, which helped get him into the NBA.

Also, former Tiger Johnathan Williams, who transferred to Gonzaga and made it to the Final Four in 2017, played last season with the Los Angeles Laker. He currently is playing in the Israel Premier League.

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