COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Men’s Basketball has signed the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit, Michael Porter, Jr. (Columbia, Mo.) to its 2017 recruiting class, head coach Cuonzo Martin announced on Wednesday. Porter returns home to Columbia, Missouri, as the Tigers’ first McDonald’s All-America signee since 2000. The 6-10, 215-pound forward played his senior season for Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, Washington, in 2016-17, averaging an outstanding 36.2 points and 13.6 rebounds per game.

The signing of Porter brings the Show-Me State back one of its own to cheer for as the talented future Tiger starred for Father Tolton Catholic in Columbia from 2013-16, leading the Trailblazers to the 2016 Missouri Class 3 State Championship inside Mizzou Arena.

“It goes without saying, but Michael is a special player and a special person,” Martin said. “Michael comes to the Mizzou Family from a great family of his own, and our basketball program is thrilled to have a student-athlete with his character, drive and passion. Lisa and Michael Porter, Sr., raised Michael well. He is continually motivated to give and is always striving to be a great teammate.

“Most of all, welcome home to Michael. Mizzou is a special place and Columbia is a community that already knows him well. I’m looking forward to Michael representing Mizzou well, on and off the court and in the classroom, and I’m sure he looks forward to it, as well.”

As a junior in 2015-16, Porter averaged 28.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game and helped Tolton to a 26-3 record and Columbia’s first high school state basketball championship in 54 years.

As a senior in 2016-17, the Porter-powered Nathan Hale squad posted a perfect 29-0 record en route to the Washington Class 3A State Championship. The state title was the first-ever for the Seattle school.

Honored as the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago on March 29, Porter completed a significant trifecta of awards by also garnering the Naismith and Gatorade Boys national player of the year awards. He is just the fifth basketball player ever to claim all three honors and first since 2004, joining the prolific listing of Dwight Howard (2004), LeBron James (2003), Chris Webber (1991) and Alonzo Mourning (1988).

Porter is Mizzou’s sixth all-time McDonald’s All-American signee; the first since Travon Bryant (2000). Porter’s name resides on a list that also includes: Albert White (1995), Anthony Peeler (1988), Derrick Chievous (1984) and Steve Stipanovich (1979).

Porter is considered the nation’s top recruit by ESPN.com and Rivals, as well as a five-star prospect by the aforementioned outlets and Scout.com and 247Sports. Additionally selected as USA Today’s All-USA Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Porter was named to All-America teams by USA Today, Associated Press, the Naismith Trophy and MaxPreps.

Beyond mere accolades, Porter has showcased his talent on national and international levels, playing for the Team USA U-18 squad on multiple occasions while earning a spot in the Jordan Brand Classic (April 14).

The son of Lisa and Michael Porter, Sr., Michael Porter, Jr. has seven siblings: Bri, Cierra, Jontay, Coban, Jevan, Izaak and Jayda. Older sisters Bri and Cierra play for Mizzou Women’s Basketball, coached by their aunt, Robin Pingeton. His father, Michael Porter, Sr., serves as an assistant coach on Martin’s staff. His mother, Lisa, played college basketball at Iowa, while his father played collegiately at New Orleans.

Porter’s signing of a financial aid agreement with the University of Missouri includes him in a growing recruiting class with incoming guard C.J. Roberts (North Richland Hills, Texas).

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball pushed its win streak to four games with a 15-6 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday afternoon (April 12) at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou posted a pair of seven-run innings (the first and fourth) and pounded out four extra-base hits and two homers to score its second-most runs of the year. Mizzou moves to 25-9 on the year with the win.

Mizzou jumped all over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the first, tallying four hits and taking advantage of a pair of errors to plate seven runs, staking starting pitcher Ryan Lee (Grandview, Mo.) to an early lead. Kirby McGuire (Round Rock, Texas), Chris Cornelius (St. Louis, Mo.) and Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) tallied two-out RBI singles in the frame.

UAPB took advantage of five walks, a wild pitch and an error in the top of the third inning to cut the lead to 7-3. LF Jordan Knox then hit a two-out, three-run homer to cut the lead to 7-6, getting the Golden Lions back into the game. But just as quick as UAPB got back into the game, Mizzou broke it open again with one run in the third and seven more in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by homers from Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) and Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.).

That was all the offense that Mizzou needed as sophomore RHP Cameron Dulle (St. Louis, Mo.) settled things down for the Mizzou pitchers from there as he tossed a career-long 3.1 innings and allowed just three hits with two strikeouts while holding UAPB off the board. He earned his first career win.

The Tigers return home this weekend for a big series with SEC East-leading Kentucky, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball topped Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 13-1, Tuesday night at Taylor Stadium to extend its winning streak to three games. Junior RHP Andy Toelken (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) tossed a gem, throwing his first career complete game and the first nine-inning complete game this season. Toelken dominated on the bump as he flirted with a no-hitter through 5.2 innings and gave up just a pair of hits and a single run while striking out a career-high seven.

Mizzou was led offensively by freshman OF Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.), who knocked in a career-high four runs and reached base in each of his four at bats as he tallied a triple, a pair of doubles, and a walk

With the victory, Mizzou improves to 24-9 on the season. In the win, Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) and Kirby McGuire (Round Rock, Texas) also had multiple hits. Mizzou pounded out 14 hits, its most since slugging 15 against Western Carolina on March 8, while its 13 runs were the most since hanging a season-high 27 on Eastern Michigan on Feb. 18.

Mizzou gained an advantage early, deploying an offensive barrage in the bottom of the second as they tallied three consecutive doubles. Robbie Glendenning (Scarborough, Australia) doubled into right and was knocked in for the game’s first run on a Misner two-bagger. Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) then laced another double down the left field line to give Mizzou a 2-0 advantage. Two batters later, Brumfield smashed a RBI single up the middle to extend the lead.

Mizzou shortstop Chris Cornelius (St. Louis, Mo.) made a dazzling backhand play in the top of the fourth on a hard-hit groundball in the hole on the left side. The highlight was completed with a pick at first base by Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.).

In the bottom of the fourth, Mizzou stretched its lead to four as Brumfield knocked in Misner on a two-out single into right. The base knock made Brumfield 3-for-3 on the evening, which moved him into the team lead for three-hit games. It was his third three-hit performance this season and his team-leading 12th multi-hit game.

Mizzou broke the game open in the fifth as they put a five spot on the Lions. The frame was highlighted by a Misner three-run triple over the head of the UAPB centerfielder. Misner tallied four RBI in the game, his season-high. After five Mizzou led 9-0.

In the top of the sixth, Toelken lost his no-hit bid on the 20th batter he faced. UAPB’s Aderly Perez doubled down the left field line and later scored on a base hit. Nonetheless, Toelken continued to dominate as he pitched the full nine innings, the longest start of his career.

Mizzou added to its’ lead as they notched a run in the seventh and three in the eighth on a three-run bomb by junior right fielder Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.). Harris now has a team-leading seven home runs and also sits at seventh place in the SEC. That gave Mizzou its 13 runs as it claimed the 13-1 decision.

Mizzou and UAPB will wrap up their two-game series Wednesday at 4 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —