Craig Porter Jr.

Last updated

Craig Porter Jr.
Craig Porter Jr. (53368474868) (cropped).jpg
Porter with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023
No. 9Cleveland Cavaliers
Position Point guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2000-02-26) February 26, 2000 (age 24)
Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school South
(Terre Haute, Indiana)
College
NBA draft 2023: undrafted
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–present Cleveland Cavaliers
2024 Cleveland Charge
Career highlights and awards
  • Third-team All-AAC (2023)
  • NJCAA national champion (2019)
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at NBA.com
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at Basketball-Reference.com

Craig Porter Jr. (born February 26, 2000) is an American basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Vincennes Trailblazers and the Wichita State Shockers.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Porter Jr. was born on February 26, 2000, and grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he attended Terre Haute South Vigo High School. During high school, he was named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association's Senior All-State Team and lead his team to the 4A state quarterfinals. [1]

College career

Vincennes

Porter Jr. started his collegiate career with the Vincennes Trailblazers, where in two seasons with the Trailblazers he helped lead them to a combined 62–7 record and a NJCAA national championship in 2019. [2] [3] After being with the Trailblazers for two seasons, Porter would decide to commit to Wichita State. [4] [5]

Wichita State

2020–21 season

In his first season with the Shockers, he would play in 19 games, starting in two of them, where he would average 2.1 points per game, 2.1 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, and 12.9 minutes per game. [6] After the conclusion of the season he would enter the transfer portal but would return to the Shockers. [7]

2021–22 season

In his second year at Wichita State, he would play in 25 games, starting in 24, in which he averaged 7.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, per game, 3.6 assists per game, and 26.9 minutes per game. [8] After the end of the season, Porter Jr. would enter his name into the transfer portal. [9] However he would return after two former Wichita State baseball players formed a NIL (Name Image and Likeness Collective) called Armchair Strategies. [10] [11]

2022–23 season

On February 26, 2023, Porter Jr. had his best career game posting a triple double, recording 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while also adding three steals in a 83–76 over Tulane. [12] Porter Jr. finished the season playing 31 games, starting in 30, while putting up 13.5 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, 4.9 assists per game, and 33.6 minutes per game. [13] For his performance on the year, he would be named to the Third Team All-AAC conference team. [14] After the conclusion of the season, Porter Jr. announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility to declare for the NBA draft. [15] [16]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Porter signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 7, 2023. [17] [18] [19] On November 19, he recorded 21 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds off the bench in a 121–109 win over the Denver Nuggets. [20] On February 14, 2024, he signed a standard contract with the Cavaliers. [21]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

NBA

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2023–24 Cleveland 51612.7.509.353.7322.12.3.4.35.6
Career51612.7.509.353.7322.12.3.4.35.6

Related Research Articles

Wesley Lavon Person is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After his playing career, Person became a women's basketball assistant coach and then the head men's basketball coach at Enterprise-Ozark Community College. He was fired from the latter position in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anderson Varejão</span> Brazilian basketball player (born 1982)

Anderson França Varejão is a Brazilian former professional basketball player who is currently the Player Development Consultant and Global Ambassador for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he spent 13 of his 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With a career that spanned four professional leagues, Varejão also played for Franca and the Flamengo of the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB), Barcelona of the EuroLeague and Liga ACB, and has been a regular member of the Brazilian national team, winning a gold medal in 2003 at the Pan American Games.

Clarence "Chucky" Brown Jr. is an American men's college basketball coach and former professional basketball player.

The 1993–94 NBA season was the 24th season of the National Basketball Association franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers had the 22nd overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, and selected Chris Mills from the University of Arizona. During the off-season, the team acquired Tyrone Hill from the Golden State Warriors, and signed free agent Rod Higgins in December. Under new head coach Mike Fratello, the Cavaliers struggled playing below .500 with a 7–14 start, but soon recovered and held a 24–23 record at the All-Star break. The Cavs were bitten by the injury bug again as Brad Daugherty missed 32 games with a back injury, while Larry Nance missed 49 games with a knee injury, and Hill missed 25 games due to thumb and knee injuries. However, Mark Price, Hot Rod Williams and Gerald Wilkins would all step up, as the Cavaliers posted an 11-game winning streak between February and March, finishing 4th in the Central Division with a 47–35 record.

The Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team is the NCAA Division I college basketball program representing Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Baker (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1993)

Ronald Delaine Baker is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Wichita State Shockers. Going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, he spent 3 seasons in the NBA, playing for the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Nance Jr.</span> American basketball player (born 1993)

Larry Donnell Nance Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Wyoming Cowboys, where he was considered one of the best big men in the Mountain West Conference after leading the 2014–15 team to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002. Nance was drafted 27th overall in the 2015 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He became part of the team's roster rebuild focusing around younger players. During the 2017–18 season, Nance was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he reached the 2018 NBA Finals. During the 2021 offseason, he was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers, who traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans midway through the 2021–22 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Wade</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Dean Jackson Wade is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kansas State Wildcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darius Garland</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Darius Kinnard Garland is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Darius Garland is often referred to as DG the PG. He played college basketball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Born in Gary, Indiana, Garland is the son of former professional basketball player Winston Garland. Garland attended Brentwood Academy in high school, joining the varsity basketball team in eighth grade and leaving as a four-time state champion and three-time Tennessee Mr. Basketball winner. He was a five-star recruit, ranked among the best point guards in the 2018 class, and a McDonald's All-American.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Porter Jr.</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Bryan Kevin Porter Jr., also known by his initials KPJ, is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan Windler</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Dylan Windler is an American professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Belmont Bruins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Mobley</span> American basketball player (born 2001)

Evan Mobley is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans and was selected third overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2021 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaiah Mobley</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Eric Isaiah Mobley is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the USC Trojans. He attended Rancho Christian School in Temecula, California, where he was a five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 as a junior with USC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conner Frankamp</span> American basketball player

Conner Frankamp is an American-Georgian professional basketball player who currently plays for Río Breogán of the Liga ACB and the Basketball Champions League. He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks and Wichita State. He was named to the third team all-Missouri Valley Conference as a junior, averaging 9 points and 3 assists per game. Frankamp entered the 2018 NBA draft but was not selected in the draft's two rounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaime Echenique</span> Colombian basketball player (born 1997)

Jaime Jesús Echenique Salinas is a Colombian professional basketball player for Petkim Spor of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He played college basketball for the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals and the Wichita State Shockers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rashard Kelly</span> American basketball player

Rashard DaeQuan Kelly is an American professional basketball player for ADA Blois of the Betclic Élite. He played college basketball for the Wichita State Shockers.

Grant Sherfield is an American professional basketball player for Rasta Vechta of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). He played college basketball for the Oklahoma Sooners, Wichita State Shockers and Nevada Wolf Pack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Markis McDuffie</span> American basketball player

Markis Derek McDuffie is an American professional basketball player for JDA Dijon of the LNB Pro A. He played college basketball for the Wichita State Shockers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Council IV</span> American basketball player (born 2001)

Ricky Nickardo Council IV is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Wichita State Shockers and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Dexter Dennis is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Wichita State Shockers and the Texas A&M Aggies.

References

  1. "Craig Porter Jr. - Men's Basketball". Wichita State Athletics. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  2. "VINCENNES UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS WIN FOURTH MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP". Vincennes University Athletics. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  3. "Craig Porter Jr". Whicita State Athletics. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  4. "2020-2021 Wichita State Transfers Playing". Basketball.RealGM. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  5. Rocha, Taylor. "Junior-college point guard Craig Porter commits to Wichita State". KSN-TV. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  6. "2020-21 Wichita State Shockers Men's Roster and Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  7. Marty, Sean. "Craig Porter Jr. enters the transfer portal". The Sunflower. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  8. "2021-22 Wichita State Shockers Men's Roster and Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  9. "Craig Porter Jr. becomes the latest Shocker in the portal". KAKE. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  10. Marty, Sean. "Craig Porter Jr. returns to WSU due to new NIL Collective". The Sunflower. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  11. "NIL collective inks first deal, Shocker PG Craig Porter returning to Wichita State". KWCH. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  12. "Porter's triple-double leads Wichita State past Tulane 83-76". AP News. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  13. "2022-23 Wichita State Shockers Men's Roster and Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  14. Henderson, Matt. "Wichita State's Porter named to all-AAC third team". KWCH. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  15. "ROUNDUP: Craig Porter declares for NBA draft". Tribune-Star. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  16. "MBB: Porter declares for NBA Draft". Hutch Post. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  17. "Cavaliers Sign Emoni Bates, Isaiah Mobley, and Craig Porter Jr. to Two-Way Contracts". NBA.com. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  18. Eldrige, Taylor (June 23, 2023). "Wichita State's Craig Porter Jr. agrees to two-way NBA contract with Cleveland Cavaliers". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  19. "WSU's Craig Porter Jr. joining Cleveland Cavaliers on two-way deal". Our Community Now. June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  20. "Darius Garland, Craig Porter Jr. lead Cleveland Cavaliers to win over Denver Nuggets". Akron Beacon Journal. November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  21. "Cavaliers Convert Craig Porter Jr. to Standard NBA Contract". NBA.com. February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.