Marvin Bagley III wasn't the only player to cause a commotion in the media with his recruitment. Michael Porter Jr. offered his share of drama, as well. Porter, who was originally committed to Washington, abruptly reopened his recruitment following the firing of Washington head coach, Lorenzo Romar. Porter decided to continue his basketball career in his home state of Missouri instead, committing to the Missouri Tigers just a few days later. Porter's talent convinced a slew of other recruits to pledge for the Tigers, giving Missouri its best recruiting class since 2013.

A look at the Tigers' upcoming season, as well as a review of Porter's skill set reveal why he is considered one of College Basketball's best.

What's in store for 2017-2018?

Missouri enters this season coming off of an abysmal 8-24 campaign in 2016-2017. The Tigers finished at the bottom of the SEC and failed to make a postseason tournament. Michael Porter Jr. offers a beacon of hope for Mizzou fans this season. Porter, alongside the likes of freshmen Jeremiah Tilmon, Jontay Porter, Blake Harris, and C.J. Roberts, brings the nation's seventh best recruiting class into Columbia this season, offering them a huge chance at redemption. The Tigers return key players Kevin Puryear, Kassius Robertson, and Jordan Barnett, giving the team a solid balance of elite talent and veteran poise.

The potential of this group showed in their first two games, as the Tigers rolled their opponents in back-to-back blowouts. Porter was limited to just two minutes of action to start the season, as he suffered a leg injury in practice, but, in those two minutes, his presence was felt. Porter logged 2 points and 2 rebounds. This doesn't seem like a lot, but his per 36 minute stats are off the charts (they project 36 points and 36 rebounds a game off of this performance.

This won't happen, but that's an idea of how dominant he was in that two minute stretch). Once Porter returns to the court, the sky is the limit for this year's Missouri team. Their freshmen appear to be meshing with the veterans, and the returning players look much improved. All they are missing is a star player. Porter is that star, and, once he is back, he will ensure that Missouri basketball shines once again.

Strengths

Porter is a rarity in the basketball world. One doesn't often find his combination of elite size, shooting, and athleticism. Porter plays as a wing forward, a position for which he has incredible size. For his size, he has great coordination, fluidity, and versatility. He has a smooth shooting stroke. He has incredible range behind the three point line and is almost automatic from mid-range. He's a threat to score from anywhere on the court. His height and athleticism make him a terrific rebounder, as well. He's very quick to get off the ground, giving him an advantage on put-backs and defensive boards. Porter rounds out his game with good court vision and passing skills, as well as solid shot blocking ability on defense.

Weaknesses

While Porter is a fantastic shooter, he tends to rely on his shot too much at times. While his ball handling has improved, he still struggles to dribble consistently well, especially with his left hand. Adding a dribble would help him develop a better slashing attack, which would largely expand his scoring arsenal. His lack of ball handling and lack of creativity with the ball makes it difficult for him to create his own space for shots. He has to have space when he catches the ball in order to get a shot off. If his shot isn't falling, it's usually difficult for him to find ways to score. While he is tall (6'10"), Porter weighs only 215 pounds. He could stand to add some muscle mass, which would help him finish in traffic better, as well as play more physical defense.

Overall analysis

Porter possesses an incredibly rare skill set that will make him a hot commodity in the NBA. He can only improve that arsenal while in college at Missouri. So far, Porter has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant. At his floor, he's been equated to Joe Johnson. His raw athleticism and shooting ability will be matched by few at the college level. He may not be in college long, but, while he is, he will certainly be considered one of college basketball's best.
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