NBA draft prospect Craig Porter Jr.: 'I impact winning in many different ways'

Craig Porter Jr. is one of themost interesting prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-2 guard began hiscollegiate career as a JUCO player, leading Vincennes (Indiana) toa 62-7 record over two seasons and winning the NJCAA nationalchampionship in 2019. After receiving interest from a number ofprograms (including Indiana, Kansas, UConn, Oregon, Ole Miss, WestVirginia, Texas Tech and Indiana State), Porter ultimatelytransferred to Wichita State.

Over the next three years withthe Shockers, Porter would make huge strides and continue hisdevelopment. Last season, Porter filled the stat sheet, averaging13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks and1.2 threes, while shooting 47.8% from the field and 36.3% fromthree.

Porter became the first playerin school history to lead the team in rebounds, assists, steals andblocks. There aren’t many 6-foot-2 point guards who lead their teamin blocks, but Porter’s motor and 40.5-inch vertical allow him toerase shots regularly. Porter ranks sixth among Wichita State’sall-time leaders in career blocks per game (1.08). Last season, hehad 11 games with multiple blocks (including a pair of 5-blockperformances) and 14 games with multiple steals.

Porter is looking forward tostarting the next chapter of his unique journey on Thursday night,when he hopes to hear his name called in the 2023 NBA Draft. Hesays that it’s finally starting to sink in that his NBA dream maysoon be a reality.

Throughout the pre-draftprocess, Porter has worked out for the Dallas Mavericks, GoldenState Warriors, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic,Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat andWashington Wizards. He’s been turning heads in workouts, and hehopes that a team is willing to take a chance on him in the secondround.

Darryl Hepburn trained Porter inTampa after Wichita State's season ended, and he believes the23-year-old has what it takes to succeed in the NBA.

“When he came to Tampa, he wasflying way under the radar. But when I did my research on him, Iimmediately saw that he had a couple signature games against somegood teams, so I felt like he was an [NBA] prospect,” Hepburn toldBasketball News. “Since I first laid eyes on him – a 6-foot-2 guardwith long arms – he impressed me with his athleticability.

“He shot 36% from three, but Isaw some room for improvement there. Over the last seven weeks, heshowed me that he’s a proven shooter. I saw him make a lot ofimprovements. He went to the Portsmouth Invitational and was one ofthe best players there. There’s a high ceiling for this kid – avery high ceiling – and he deserves an opportunity. I think he’sgoing to get drafted.”

Basketball News caught up withPorter to discuss his game, player comparisons, unique journey,pre-draft workouts, plan for draft night and much more.

What has the pre-draft process been like for you? I'vetalked to NBA veterans who say they're glad they never have to gothrough it again because of how hard it is with all of the workoutsand traveling.

Craig Porter Jr.: “It’s been a lot of traveling, for sure – goingfrom the east to the west to down south a lot. I mean, it’s aninteresting process, just getting to see a bunch of differentcities and getting to play against a bunch of different prospectsand players of all calibers. It’s just an experience that you onlyget to go through once, so I’ve just been going through it and justdoing everything I can to get into the position that I’m in now.But it’s been pretty fun.”

You have worked out for the Mavs, Warriors, Celtics,Pistons, Magic, Cavaliers, Clippers, Heat and Wizards. What weresome of the biggest questions they were asking and what kind offeedback did you get from those teams?

Porter: “Iwould say, at the beginning when I did my first few [workouts], themost questionable thing about my game was whether I couldconsistently shoot the outside shot. I feel like, as I’ve done allof the workouts, everybody has noticed and realized that I canshoot the ball way better than they thought. And my complete gamejust surprised a lot of people once they saw [me pass] the eyetest, I guess. A lot of the feedback has been pretty similar acrossthe board. I’ve been honestly doing really well in a lot of myworkouts, and a lot of the teams have been saying that they expectme to go somewhere in that second round or, if not there, then forsure [I’ll be] a two-way type of player.”

Do you think you can be a knockdown shooter in theNBA?

Porter: “Idefinitely think I can. I feel, eventually, [when players read] alot of the scouting reports and things people go over about me,they won’t necessarily see the numbers and think that I’ll be ableto [shoot], so it’ll surprise a lot of people at the beginning. Buteven with the work I’ve been putting in, I’ll be able to just shootthe ball more confidently and do it at a high level.”

You’ve had a unique journey to this point, coming fromJUCO, leading your team to a NJCAA national championship andspending five years in college. What was it like taking the JUCOroute and what did you learn from it?

Porter: “Itreally just showed me to never take anything for granted and thatyou have to work for everything you earn in life. Really, JUCOtaught me almost everything I know. I mean, I went through justabout everything in JUCO – going through five-hour practices, toCoach having to order us all pizzas after 8 or 9 p.m. because wepracticed so long, to wanting to quit because things got so hardand difficult. I mean, it tests you, for sure. I pay a lot of myrespects and dues to my coach and teammates there because of thegrind we went through there and how it just prepares you. It putsyou in a different position, and it prepares you for thislevel.”

When did you start to realize that playing in the NBAmight be a realistic option?

Porter: “Honestly, I think it was after my senior yearonce I was about to sign with my agent Ryan [Straining]. I got atext from him saying that he was going to try his hardest and doeverything he could to get me into the Portsmouth Invitational, andthis was before I even signed with him. Really, I was unsure ofanything I’d be able to do. I thought I would’ve been an overseasplayer, for sure. But once he got me into Portsmouth, things havejust been taking off and skyrocketing ever since everybody has beenable to see me. I give a lot of credit to him for pushing my nameso hard.”

Each season, you’ve made significant strides. From thestart of your college career to now, how much do you feel you havegrown as a player?

Porter: “Ithink every aspect of my game has just gone to another level,especially the shooting, scoring and rebounding – pretty much everystatistic. I really feel like I was just in a bunch of differentroles and being asked [to do] different things on certain teams.But I feel like every role I was put in, I thrived and dideverything I was supposed to do. I feel like being prepared for allof those things is really what [allowed] me to dothat...

"Like I said, my role kind ofchanged every year. In JUCO, I went from being a spot-up shooter myfreshman year to being the lead guard my second year and reallyjust playing in a bunch of different roles. And the same thinghappened at Wichita State. It just put me in a position where Ididn’t always have to be the person who scores or the person thatthe defense focuses on, and I just found ways to impact winning. Iwas the leading rebounder and shot-blocker; I just found ways toget on the court and I just did the extra things that some of theguys on my team didn’t, and it just always paid off forme.”

You’re 23 years old and we know that teams typicallyfall in love with younger players and their potential during thedraft process. But do you feel like there are some advantages tobeing an older and more experienced prospect?

Porter: “Idefinitely do. I think [my experience] has already prepared me tobe a pro and I feel like I’m handling myself as a pro, so [I’m notdealing with] a lot of the little hiccups that some younger playersmight have to go through – like needing a little bit more time todevelop or anything off the court. I just feel like with me beingolder and being through things that they haven’t experienced, itjust prepared me a little bit more than they are.”

Which players would you compare yourself to? Who do youlike to study?

Porter: “Thereare a couple players I study. Definitely Lonzo Ball, that’s one ofmy top ones. One of my favorite players growing up was Rajon Rondo,just him being able to do a little bit of everything, even if hecouldn’t shoot the ball (which I feel like obviously I can do a lotbetter than him). I mean, just being able to rebound, get histeammates involved and score when needed. Really, those comparisonsare probably my top-two, for sure.”

If an NBA general manager asked why should they draftyou, what would you say?

Porter: “I’dprobably say that I’m the type of person who doesn’t necessarilyneed to be ‘the guy’ or the face of something to impact it. I canimpact winning in many different ways. You can throw me in therefor one minute and I’m going to make a big difference in that oneminute or 30 seconds or [however long I’m in]. My attention todetail is really high. I’m just an older guy who needs a chance. Itake this really seriously – this is honestly my life. Really,being able to show what I can do is life or death tome.”

What do you bring to a team off the court? Do you thinkyou can have an impact in the locker room as a leader or glueguy?

Porter: “Definitely, I’m a pretty calm person and, likeI said before, there’s almost nothing that I haven’t been through.I know what it’s like to win, I know what it’s like to lose and Iknow what it’s like to go through adversity. Really, my biggestthing is that I’m able to lead and get guys to pay attention andlisten, even if they’re frustrated or whatever. That was one of thethings I was challenged on over the last two years, so it’ssomething that I’ve definitely developed over the years. But yeah,I’m definitely a good person off the court who can help guys keeptheir mental.”

What are your plans for draft night?

Porter: “Ithink I’m just going to have some of my family and friends over atmy parents’ house, and we’re just going to watch the draft.Hopefully, my name is called. If it’s not, we’re all still going tohang out and I’ll spend some time with my family.”