[EspressoParticipant]

About a year ago, this website did a top 10 HS prospects. Ayton ranked at #1, was easily considered to be the best prospect and received much praise about his overall fundamental game. Michael Porter sat at number 7 in this list, considered a good athlete and shooter, standing 6’9 ft tall.

I researched videos on all players, and Michael Porter Jr was definitely my favorite prospect of the top 10. I figured he plays like a an actual guard, who  can create buckets and by the time his done growing up, he’ll be about 6’11.

  ESPN had Porter Jr ranked #2 in his respective class at the time, behind Ayton, but shortly after Wendell Carter blew up and took his spot. Porter sat at #3, and I started to question wether or not he actually "had it " in him, while still thinking he stood as the better prospect.

Year went by and I simply kept track on youtube for videos of Porter, time after time I came away more impressed. He started rebounding the ball more, willingly playing off the ball, and using his body for contact layups, something which had remained a weakness of his.

Talking to my friend yesterday, he introduced me to Zion Williamson. Who at 16 years old is supposedly ranked #2 in the country behind "someone". Come to find out Porter is now ranked ahead of everyone including Ayton.

How do you all feel about Porter over Ayton. When I posted here about it I got much hate as everyone seemed to be riding shotgun in the Ayton Wagon.

Porter is looking like a franchise changer right about now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[warson24]

Both player could be franchise changing talents. I had always Ayton and Porter at #1 & 2, giving Ayton the edge since it’s much harder to find talented bigs than wings and he’s unique. 
I’m also really high on Zion, wouldn’t be surprised if he takes over Bagley

[EspressoParticipant]

 I have never been a Bagley fan and got much hate for that too. Bagley seems like a tweeter to me. I thought that Zion was already ranked above Bagley

[HitsterParticipant]

 I haven’t seen that much of Porter yet but he looks a very nice prospect. I’d have Ayton ahead of Porter in my mind at the moment as I think elite big men are a better potential commodity than a top SF.

One thing that sprang to mind was thinking back to 2007, when Greg Oden often compared to David Robinson was battling at the top of the mocks with a skinny SF called Kevin Durant and we know how that turned out. I’m certainly not saying that Porter will be the next KD although whoever drafts him will hope for this but Ayton’s comparison is also David Robinson.

Porter seems to be filling out nicely and is adding size and weight so could be phusically very NBA ready come his debut.

Wendell Carter at Duke also deserves consideration, he could be the sort of player that Okafor would be if he played defence. The guy is apparently a high charter guy already and a year under Coach K will really help him, if a team wanted a lower risk pick then he’d probably be the man.

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

Ive always thought Ayton is a bit overrated. I’m not trying to take anything away from him the kid is a great prospect. Legit height and length and 7 feet tall. Has a nice stroke and good mechanics from all over the court. Good inside out game but has a tendency to fall in love with perimeter play which I guess is widely accepted nowadays so isn’t an issue. People say he has an elite physical makeup and structure but I just don’t see that. To me he isnt built like Embiid, Jordan or Drummond but neither were they at that age and he is not nearly as athletic as those guys. He is mobile fluid and athletic but I wouldn’t say elite. I think he will be a very good prospect and compete for the 1st overall pick with whoever is there but these guys were talking about him being a generational talent and once in a lifetime hall of fame player yet he hasn’t even dominated HS basketball.

[binetParticipant]

 I think Ayton, Bamba should declare in 2017, the Thon Maker way. Their stock is high right now and recent history has shown hype among bigs gets down when they play in College. They both are older than Ntilikina so they can declare. This draft is said to lack talent at their position, so it’s the perfect time to do it. Labissiere would likely have had a better situation if he declared in 2015.

It’s possibly the same for Porter. He is basically the same age as Tatum and everybody would take him over Tatum right now. Possibly top 5. he should declare or at least test the waters.

 

 

 

[ChammesParticipant]

 I would rather have Ayton just because hes a freak of nature, bt the way NBA is going you can easily take Porter Jr ahead of him. Ayton reminds me of KAT and Porter reminds me of Brandon ingram/KD.

[HitsterParticipant]

 I’m not certain if they could declare as Binet suggests because I’m sure that some of them would be exploring it. In a draft that may be lacking top big men a guy like Ayton would have very high draft stock for this year.

[binetParticipant]

 Yes. I just double checked and apparently they should not be eligible but Thon Maker neither should have been.

I wonder,if one of them tries, wether the NBA might rule him eligible anyway because of Thon Maker precedence, the one&done dcupmentary and all the buzz that might float around their decision. My personal opinion is that it should be an age only rule, and that the "one year out of high school" not applicable to "international"(yet applicable to australian Ben Simmons) is weird. It was supposed to be discussed under the new CBA and I think Thon Maker’s case sends the league’s message: they shall accept any borderline case like this until they settle the new rule.

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Thon did a post graduate course at HS then declared one year after graduating. The rules state you must be a year removed from graduation and of age. Maker was technically eligible which is why he was drafted. When did these guys graduate?

[Author]

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