The RoundHouse | 11/30/2021 3:11:00 PM
A coach told a young
Craig Porter Jr. to go to school on video of NBA guard Rajon Rondo.
"He had me watch some of his stuff, learn from him because I was obviously under-sized and would be playing point guard my whole life," Porter said. "He stuck with me, and I fell in love with his game."
After a year delay, Wichita State fans are getting a look at Porter play in a fashion Rondo would appreciate. Lots of defense. Steadily improving playmaking. Lots of rebounding. An ability to help the Shockers win without forcing shots or scoring big points.
"He's getting more and more confident," Wichita State coach
Isaac Brown said. "He's running the basketball team. He's an elite defender."
Porter, a 6-foot-2 junior from Terre Haute, Ind., struggled through his first season with the Shockers in 2020-21. COVID-19 protocols and injuries kept him sidelined for around 60 days last season. He averaged 12.9 minutes in 19 games.
With those concerns behind him, Porter is showing the skills that made a starter on the 2019 NJCAA champions at Vincennes (Ind.) junior college.
His regular thought: This is the real me. Last season was not.
"It goes through my mind almost every day, every practice," he said. "I know what I could have done to help us last year."
The Shockers (5-1) play at Oklahoma State (6-1) on Wednesday (7 p.m. ESPN+).
Porter has started five of six games for the Shockers and averages 4.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 blocks. In Friday's win 61-55 win at Missouri, Porter led the Shockers with four assists and two blocks. His seven rebounds matched two others for the team lead. While he didn't score, the Shockers didn't require that kind of help.
"He makes other players around him better," Brown said. "Guys are running in transition and getting to the spots because they know if they're open, he's going to find them."
As Porter gains more control of the offense, other Shockers benefit. Against Missouri, Porter both drove to the basket and passed to open three-point shooters and found center
Morris Udeze rolling to the basket.
It is no coincidence that Udeze enjoyed his best shooting night of the season against the Tigers. Udeze made 6 of 8 shots and scored 15 points because Porter and others gave the Udeze the ball in good spots. That helped Udeze score and draw fouls, both critical parts of the offense missing much of this season.
"Any time you can get easy baskets for a big guy, when you can get a dunk or a layup and you didn't have to post up and work for that basket, it makes your life easier," Brown said.
Porter has been filling that role most of his life as a guard. He was 5-foot-2 in high school until a growth spurt until junior year when he added about seven or eight inches. Playing that position at that height gave him an appreciation for helping his team without scoring.
"It gives me the ability to make my team better without just only scoring," he said. "I can pass. I can rebound. You're making sure you set an example with how you play and make sure guys look to you as a role model."
Rondo, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, earned All-NBA third team honors in 2012 and All-Defensive Team honors four times with Boston. He never averaged more than 13.7 points and his game provides a fitting blueprint for Porter.
"He's under-sized, probably around 6-1, 6-2, just like me," Porter said. "He rebounds. He can pass the ball and score anyway he needs to help his team. He gets everybody involved."
Porter is trying to do the same for the Shockers.
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
