5-Star Michael Porter Jr. Eyeing UVa Visit

Five-star rising junior guard/forward Michael Porter Jr., shown in the above video throwing down a big-time dunk, is writing a blog for USA Today. The 6’8″ prospect’s initial entry, released on May 5, included some promising news for UVa.

“I plan to visit Virginia and Washington relatively soon. I try to plan visits around me already being in the area. I’ve already visited, of course, Mizzou and also Indiana,” Porter wrote (Click here to read the entire blog entry).

Getting a visit would obviously be a big plus for the Hoos. Another positive in Virginia’s favor is class of 2016 commitment Kyle Guy, who happens to be Porter’s best friend. Porter discussed Guy’s potential impact on his college decision at the 2015 Nike EYBL in Hampton, Virginia.

“[UVa is] recruiting me pretty seriously, and Kyle’s my best friend. Obviously it would be cool to go play with your best friend, but I’m not cutting the list down or anything yet. But I like Virginia… it’s a real cool school,” Porter Jr. said in my second EDGE report from the event.

The competition is tough and includes Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan State, Missouri (where Porter’s father is an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team) and Washington (Huskies HC Lorenzo Romar is Porter’s godfather), among others. The first step is getting a visit, though, and it appears UVa will receive one in the coming months. Given his “being in the area” comment, it’s reasonable to speculate that the big-time talent may participate in the NBPA Top 100 Camp held every June at the John Paul Jones Arena.

UVa Offers Porter’s MOKAN Elite Teammate

Last week, head coach Tony Bennett offered a scholarship to Norman North (Norman, OK) point guard Trae Young, a 6’1″, 165-pound sophomore and teammate of Porter’s on the MOKAN Elite AAU squad.

UCLA offered last week as well, and the Hoos and Bruins join Baylor, Connecticut, Creighton, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas on the growing list of scholarship offers the talented point guard is considering.

UVa now has three confirmed offers out to point guards in the class of 2017. There is Maury (Norfolk, VA) star Matt Coleman, who has had a Virginia offer since the summer before his freshman year of high school, and Alex Barcello, a 6’2″ prospect out of Corona Del Sol High School in Tempe, Arizona. Of the three, only Coleman has visited UVa.

Watch highlights of Young below, courtesy of Courtside Films, from the Nike EYBL in Hampton last month. Also be sure to check out our free Scholarship Picture Page for the latest breakdown on the scholarship numbers in the 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons. In addition to those scholarship players expected to be on the roster in those given seasons, we also list those prospects UVa is targeting in each class.