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Jontay Porter joins Missouri: 5 things you need to know

By Chris Stone

BERKELEY, CA - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Cuonzo Martin of the California Golden Bears gives instructions to his team during their game against the Incarnate Word Cardinals at Haas Pavilion on December 9, 2015 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CA - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Cuonzo Martin of the California Golden Bears gives instructions to his team during their game against the Incarnate Word Cardinals at Haas Pavilion on December 9, 2015 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Jontay Porter will play for Missouri this season, so here’s what you should know

The Missouri Tigers added to their riches on Wednesday night when Jontay Porter, a top 10 prospect in the class of 2018 and brother of No. 1 recruit and Missouri commit Michael Porter Jr., announced he would re-classify and join the team for the 2017-18 season.

Porter’s commitment will have far-ranging effects from raising the Tigers’ expectations to bolstering the strength of the Southeastern Conference. Here’s everything you need to know about his decision, including how it came to be and what it means for everyone going forward.

PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 7: Michael Porter Jr. #9 of the USA Junior Select Team dunks against the World Select Team during the game on April 7, 2017 at the MODA Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Sam Forencich)
PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 7: Michael Porter Jr. #9 of the USA Junior Select Team dunks against the World Select Team during the game on April 7, 2017 at the MODA Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Sam Forencich) /

5. Missouri has solidified one of the nation’s top recruiting class

First and foremost, Jontay Porter’s decision to re-classify into 2017 helps Missouri solidify a recruiting class that already ranked in the top 10 nationally, according to 247Sports. The Tigers had already landed Porter’s brother and No. 1 ranked recruit Michael Jr. as well as 4-star prospects power forward Jeremiah Tilmon and point guard Blake Harris. 3-star point guard C.J. Roberts is the final member of the five man class. The group forms the top ranked Missouri recruiting class dating back to 1999, as far back as the 247Sports’ database goes.

The class was almost even better, too. 5-star prospect Kevin Knox added the Tigers to his list after Porter Jr. committed to the school. They even managed to get him to campus for a visit alongside Porter Jr. Knox eventually chose Kentucky, but getting into the conversation was a big step for a Missouri team that has struggled for so long.

It will be interesting to see if the momentum the Tigers have generated with the 2017 class will carry forward in a year when one of the assistant coaches doesn’t have two sons who are elite prospects, but for now what matters is Missouri’s top 10 recruiting class and what they’ll be able to do on the basketball court.