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Porter inks with Georgetown
SIKESTON -- The biggest question plaguing the high school basketball season has finally became official.
Scott County Central standout Otto Porter etched his name to a letter of intent to play his college basketball at Georgetown University on Monday at Scott Central High School.
The question of why he chose one of the historic powers of the Big East can now be answered as well.
"It was a great atmosphere, has great coaches, has a great tradition, it's a place where I can go and be successful and I fit in the program," said Porter. "Education wise was a big thing too. It's a big thing down there and that's what I want. It's education first."
Porter ended some of the decision drama when he verbally committed to Georgetown following a weekend visit to Washington, D.C. early last week.
He chose the Hoyas over Missouri and Kansas.
"I think it's a great fit -- academically and athletically," Wright said. "Having that opportunity to play at a prestigious school like that, along with getting an education from Georgetown, means a lot to the area, means a lot to Scott County Central and means a lot to his family too."
The 6-9, 200 pound Porter, who averaged nearly 30 points per game and 12 rebounds per game in his senior campaign as a Brave, mentioned playing for an experienced coach like John Thompson III, son of legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson, played a big role as well. Thompson III has a career coaching record of 227-108.
"It's a great opportunity having a coach like Coach Thompson," Porter said. "He's had a lot of success in his career."
The Hoyas ended the 2010-11 season with a 21-11 overall record and a 9-8 conference record. Their season ended with a 74-56 loss to an eventual Final Four contender, Virginia Commonwealth.
Porter will be entering a slightly different scheme when it comes to X's and O's on the hardwood.
Georgetown, which is a private, four-year school that may be more well-known as a prestigious law school, features a somewhat slower offensive pace resembling 'The Princeton Offense' -- a style perfected by former Princeton head coach Pete Carril, who coached Thompson III through 1984-88. The Hoyas' offense revolves around constant motion, expert passing and back-cuts.
It's a shade different than Scott Central's 'run-and-gun', but both Porter and Wright believe the transition can be made.
"I think I could fit in well," Porter said. "I can move without the ball pretty good."
Added Wright, "Offensively it's a little bit slower, but, they had games where they scored into the 100's so it's not like they slow it down every time. I think he'll fit well in that situation because he's a smart player. He's a smart kid and a smart basketball player."
During his visit to the nation's capital, Porter had a chance to play with the returning Georgetown team as well as some of the incoming freshman.
Along with Porter, the Hoyas could potentially field a squad of four players above 6-8 on the floor at the same time.
"I met some of the incoming freshman and their pretty big guys," Porter said. "We have bigger guys coming back too so we'll be pretty big inside."
Porter comes in as the top recruit in the Hoyas' 2011 class. Porter was graded as the ninth-best small forward on ESPN's top 100 recruiting board and 31st overall. He joins Mikael Hopkins (6-8, 210), the 11th best center, Jabril Trawick (6-5, 200), the 24th best shooting guard, Tyler Adams (6-9, 255), the 16th best center and Greg Whittington (6-8, 195) who is the 48th best power forward.
While playing together, Porter and Thompson III noticed they gelled right away.
"Actually, coach seen us play together for the first time and he thought that we clicked real well," Porter said. "I felt that way too."
Porter, who plans on majoring in engineering, is following in the footsteps of another highly touted recruit from Missouri who picked a school on the East Coast. Poplar Bluff native Tyler Hansbrough turned out to be one of the better college players to ever play in the NCAA and was a very exciting time for area basketball fans.
Porter's decision to head east is just as thrilling.
"It means a lot to the area," said Wright. "Having a kid like Hansbrough that went to North Carolina and a lot of people in this area got a chance to see him play. It means a lot to Scott County Central community and the whole area for a kid to have an opportunity to go to a prestigious school like Georgetown.
"It's an exciting thing."
"I'm just blessed," Porter said about his future endeavors. "I want to take my talent to the next level and I know going to Georgetown can do that."