It’s a good thing basketball phenoms aren’t always determined by size.
Freshman point guard Tajuan Porter has already proven to us that his stature is a non-factor in his college career so far.
Before last Friday’s game against Lehigh University, Porter attended the funeral of a childhood friend in Detroit, played in his first official collegiate game and led the team with 27 points a day later. In doing so, he showed more heart and character than most of the guys on the roster have in their entire career.
Porter was unfazed by the circumstances involved in his performance last weekend, likely because he’s been dealing with adversity his entire life.
His 65-foot buzzer beater before halftime against Portland State University shows that he is gifted beyond any physically measurable statistic. And, inch-for-inch, Porter is likely the most talented basketball player on Oregon’s roster.
Beyond the drool-worthy statistics, 10-of-12 from deep against Portland State and one missed free throw in 19 attempts during the three-game tournament, Porter has given the Duck faithful reason to believe this is the year that Oregon men’s basketball finally lives up to the hype that’s been circulating since 2004.
Although the team has been filled with lackluster performances from its players, but the Pit Crew chanted Porter’s name during his first exhibition game. He was named MVP after scoring 93 points during the Basketball Travelers Classic, leading Dick Vitale to announce him as his player of the week. Porter set the Oregon freshman scoring record for a game and he’s the national leader in three-pointers while second in scoring.
So much for the freshman learning curve.
Where was all the hype for him?
Oh yeah, he’s 5-feet-6-inches tall. His recruitment was met with criticism instead of the instant worship that went on when the 2004 class that included Malik Hairston, Maarty Leunen, Bryce Taylor and Chamberlain Oguchi was announced. They were praised as the chosen ones to lead the Ducks deep into the NCAA Tournament.
While that’s yet to happen, Porter is the one who could be the key figure in Oregon’s success. While I doubt he will continue to drop 27 or more points against the Pac-10 schools, opposing teams will know he’s capable of making more than half of the three-pointers he shoots if left unguarded beyond the arc.
By keying on him, everyone else on the team should be able to have more open looks than they’re accustomed to. Hairston will no longer be the man primarily responsible for carrying the team and having that pressure removed should help him develop into the star we all know he’s capable of being.
All the upperclassmen are treating Porter like he’s the guy the team will rely on the most. During postgame interviews, they rattle off Porter’s stats before he takes questions.
He’s like their kid brother who inspires them to be better.
But for coach Ernie Kent, Porter may be the one who helps him keep his job. After two disappointing seasons with an abundance of talent, many people believed Kent was losing his grip on the team. And after recruiting a small guard, more criticism of Kent was raised.
Porter has, for now, silenced concerns over Kent’s recruiting methods, but we’ll see whether or not he tries to lean too heavily on Porter’s short frame throughout the season.
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