Michael Porter Jr. Wins Naismith Award; Brandon Roy Named Coach of the Year
By JACOB POLACHECK Michael Porter Jr., the 6-foot-10
By JACOB POLACHECK Michael Porter Jr., the 6-foot-10
Washington has parted ways with coach Lorenzo
Following his brilliant performance at the Hoophall Classic, Washington-bound forward Michael Porter Jr. has replaced Arizona signee DeAndre Ayton atop the 2017 ESPN 100.
The 7-foot Ayton is now ranked No. 2, with Duke-bound forward Wendell Carter at No. 3, uncommitted point guard Trevon Duval at No. 4 and uncommitted big man Mohamed Bamba at No. 5.
The 6-foot-10, 220-pound Porter Jr. has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant and Paul George, and his virtuoso 36-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist performance for unbeaten Nathan Hale (14-0) against famed Oak Hill Academy at the Hoophall Classic did nothing to dissuade those perceptions.
Porter Jr. is currently projected as the No. 5 pick in 2018 by DraftExpress.com, but he figures to be in the mix for the possible No. 1 spot along Ayton.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Lorenzo Romar’s seat at Washington is so hot that some folks in the Twittersphere are calling for him to be fired before next season arrives.
Romar has the projected No. 1 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft in Markelle Fultz, and yet the Huskies (9-9, 2-4 Pac-12) don’t have anything close to an NCAA Tournament résumé at this point.
If Fultz misses the NCAAs and then goes No. 1 in the Draft, it would mark the second straight season the top pick missed the Dance after LSU’s Ben Simmons did so last year.
With Michael Porter Jr. coming in next season, it’s at least theoretically possible that the No. 1 pick could miss the NCAA Tournament three years running if the Huskies were to fail to qualify in 2018, too.
