Former Mizzou basketball standout Jontay Porter signs NBA deal
By SDS Staff
Published:
Jontay Porter is heading to the NBA.
The former Mizzou standout has signed a multi-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. Porter’s agent shared the news with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Sunday.
Porter had a memorable 2017-18 season in Columbia, helping the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012-13, appearing in all 33 games (staring seven), averaging 9.9 points and leading the Tigers in both rebounding (6.8 rpg) and blocks (55). He ranked sixth in the SEC in rebounding (leading all league freshmen) with 6.8 boards per game, was ninth in blocks (1.7 bspg) and third in defensive rebounds (5.3 drpg). When Porter was scoring, it was a good sign for the Tigers as he averaged 11.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in Mizzou’s 20 wins against 7.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in its losses. the Tigers were 15-2 on the season when he scored 10 or more points. Porter recorded 326 points on the season, eighth-most by a Tiger freshman, including 17 double-figure scoring games (three double-doubles). The strong rookie showing resulted in Porter being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and the conference’s Co-Sixth Man of the Year.
Porter tested the NBA Draft waters after 2017-18, but withdrew his name and elected to return to Mizzou. Unfortunately, he did not play the 2018-19 season after suffering a season-ending knee injury during a preseason scrimmage.
Jontay Porter, a rookie F/C out of Missouri, has signed a multi-year deal with the Grizzlies, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. Porter rehabbed two separate knee injuries, but has progressed well and is expected to be ready for training camp next season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 8, 2020
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
