Missouri sophomore power forward Jontay Porter tore his right ACL and MCL Sunday afternoon and will be out for the 2018-19 season, a team spokesman said.
The team released a statement at 6:45 p.m. confirming that Porter suffered the injury in a closed scrimmage against Southern Illinois Sunday afternoon. No additional comment will be provided yet by the program, per the statement.
The Porter family has a well-charted history with injuries. Michael Porter Jr., Jontay’s brother, only appeared in three games during his lone season at Missouri after requiring back surgery. Cierra Porter, Jontay’s second oldest sister, medically retired from the Missouri women’s basketball team in June due to lingering knee issues, and oldest sister Bri suffered torn ACLs five times in high school.
Jontay Porter said after the Mizzou Madness preseason event Saturday night that he was excited by how improved a previously ailing knee felt.
Porter helped Missouri reach the NCAA Tournament in 2018 and was named co-SEC sixth man of the year as a freshman, averaging 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He initially declared for the NBA draft but withdrew his name to return to school after the draft combine.
Porter has been projected as a top-10 pick in the 2019 NBA draft. After the injury, he will either be able to enter the draft and drop to a lower pick, or return to school next year for what would be his redshirt sophomore season.
Porter and fellow sophomore Jeremiah Tilmon were considered one of the most dominant looming front courts in the country going into the season, and each of their talent was on display at Mizzou Madness on Saturday. Missouri planned to use Porter in both his standard role of power forward and in a more position-less mold. His skill in the post, passing prowess and ability as a spot-up three-point shooter made him a lethal matchup, and over the summer coach Cuonzo Martin discussed the idea of adding to that arsenal by having Porter bring the ball up on occasion.
Porter’s power forward spot could be filled this season by a combination of senior Kevin Puryear and sophomore K.J. Santos, though Santos has missed practice in recent weeks with a broken foot. Martin had no update on Santos’ status on Saturday night.
_Edited by Adam Cole | acole@themaneater.com_
