Tajuan Porter’s height has always been looked down upon, but for him it only adds to how dangerous he can be if players on other teams believe his stature dictates the type of player he is.
Other teams doubted Porter’s ability to play at the collegiate level but it was Oregon coach Ernie Kent’s decision to look beyond Porter’s height that led the 5-foot-6-inch point guard to choose the Ducks.
“Throughout the recruiting process Oregon made me feel the most comfortable because they weren’t worried about my size,” Porter said. “A lot of other schools were scared away.”
His teammates were unsure about having a player of Porter’s size on the team but were quickly impressed by his abilities.
“I didn’t know what to think,” junior forward Maarty Leunen said. “We had Aaron so I thought he was going to be the backup. But for him to be playing so much shows how good he his.”
Porter also wanted to go somewhere where he could contribute right away but didn’t expect to receive this much playing time early in his career. He averages 30.4 minutes per game.
“I guess things change. My perspective wasn’t what the coaches wanted. So they put me in the starting lineup and I’m happy with that,” Porter said.
As for his size, Porter believes it only adds to his abilities and is not a hindrance.
“It can be a disadvantage if you make it one,” Porter said. “But you have to find it within yourself to play and not make it seem like you’re a liability.”
Porter says teams try to target him while he’s on defense but he tries to compensate for his lack of defensive prowess on the offensive end, where he believes he truly is able to show his ability as a basketball player.
“You want to make them feel like they can’t guard you,” Porter said. “You can’t find too many people, like a 6-foot-4 guard, that can do the same things (as me).”
Although the majority of Porter’s contribution on offense has been from three-point shooting, he’s taken it upon himself to alter an opposing team’s defensive scheme and has started to drive the ball more.
“Mix it up and keep the defense thinking,” Porter said. “Penetrating will open my shot up and create shots for others.”
While Porter said he doesn’t focus on what other teams or opposing fans may say about him during a game, Leunen said he certainly hears plenty of it from the crowd.
“The Washington crowd got on him pretty bad but he’s used to it. Nothing’s going to faze him,” Leunen said.
Porter made the same assessment. In fact, he likely also wouldn’t be fazed if he were to enter a three-point contest with the Oregon women’s freshman long-range shooting extraordinaire, Taylor Lilley who is converting 54.7 percent of her three-point attempts compared to Porter’s 41.7 percent. So, who would win there?
“I would say me because I’m confident in myself,” Porter said. “But I would let her win just to keep her confidence up.”
But would she give Porter a challenge at all?
“I got pride. I ain’t gonna let no girl beat me,” Porter said.
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