COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr. is hopeful he'll be cleared to return to practice from lower back surgery next week, providing a boost for a Tigers team aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament.
The 6-foot-10 Porter, the top prep prospect in the country last season, played in only two minutes of the Tigers' season-opening win over Iowa State before missing the rest of the season following surgery in November.
Porter averaged 36.2 points and 13.6 rebounds per game as a senior in high school in Washington, and he was a McDonald's All-American after signing with Missouri (16-8, 6-5 Southeastern Conference).