Howard Porter (basketball)

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Howard Porter (August 31, 1948 – May 26, 2007) was an American professional basketball player. He played as a forward and a center.

Early life

Porter was born in Stuart, Florida. While in the 8th grade, he played on the varsity team at Stuart Training School, the high school for Martin County blacks.[1] He attended Booker High School in Sarasota, Florida. The highlight of his high school career occurred in 1967, when he led Booker to the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A State Basketball Championship.

College career

Porter then played collegiately at Villanova University, where he was a three-time All-America selection. He took Villanova to the 1971 NCAA Championship Game, in which Villanova lost to UCLA 68–62. Porter was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after scoring 25 points in the final game. However, he was later ruled ineligible for the honor because he had signed a professional contract with the Pittsburgh Condors of the American Basketball Association during the middle of his senior year.[2] To the present day, the MOP for the 1971 Final Four is listed as "*Vacated".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Professional career

Porter never played for the Condors, instead joining the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1971. He played seven seasons in the NBA as a member of the Bulls, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and New Jersey Nets.[3]

His best professional season was in 1976–77 with Detroit, when he averaged 13.2 points and 5.9 rebounds, playing alongside fellow Villanova teammate Chris Ford.[3]

Porter was nicknamed "Geezer" during his time at Villanova and had become a fan favorite at the Pistons' then-home, Cobo Arena.[4]

Post-NBA life

Porter had retired from the NBA in 1978 at 29 years old in a career cut short by injuries, including a blood clot in his lungs, and a cocaine addiction, a significant problem in the 1970s NBA. He was arrested in 1985 and served six months in jail for drug possession. He entered a drug rehabilitation program in Minnesota in 1989, remained in the area, and in 1995 began working as a probation officer for Ramsey County.[5][6][7]

2007 disappearance and murder

Howard Porter disappeared on May 18, 2007. He was found severely beaten in a Minneapolis alley in the early morning hours of May 19 and died on May 26 of injuries sustained during the assault.[8]

Local police arrested a 33-year-old prostitute named Tanya Washington, who Porter had solicited, in connection with his murder.[9] Washington was later released by police, who stated that there was not enough evidence to file charges against her.[10] On September 4, police announced that they had arrested and charged Rashad Arthur Raleigh with Porter's murder, who had attacked the former NBA star in a robbery set-up.[11] Raleigh is serving a life sentence for the crime.[12]

Porter is interred at Washington Park Cemetery in Orlo Vista, Florida. He had three children, Ebony, Howard Jr. and Keelee.[13]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Source[3]

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1971–72 Chicago 67 0 10.9 .424 .766 2.7 .4 6.0
1972–73 Chicago 43 0 9.5 .452 .759 2.7 .4 5.1
1973–74 Chicago 73 4 16.8 .450 .800 3.9 .4 .3 .5 9.4
1974–75 New York 17 0 7.8 .361 .778 2.2 .1 .2 .1 1.9
1974–75 Detroit 41 25.1 .500 .843 5.3 .4 .5 .6 10.6
1975–76 Detroit 75 19.8 .469 .753 3.9 .3 .4 .5 8.9
1976–77 Detroit 78 28.2 .483 .858 5.9 .7 .6 .9 13.2
1977–78 Detroit 8 13.4 .372 .571 2.1 .3 .4 .6 4.5
1977–78 New Jersey 55 22.1 .495 .811 4.8 .7 .5 .6 12.8
Career 457 4 18.7 .469 .802 4.1 .5 .4 .6 9.2

Playoffs

Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1972 Chicago 4 7.8 .429 1.000 2.8 .8 4.8
1973 Chicago 6 13.2 .353 .750 3.0 .3 4.5
1974 Chicago 11 13.6 .307 1.000 4.0 .5 .4 .5 5.5
1975 Detroit 3 30.7 .548 .857 6.7 .0 1.7 .3 17.3
1976 Detroit 9 23.7 .526 .882 4.7 .7 .8 .6 13.0
1977 Detroit 3 32.7 .617 .500 5.7 .7 .7 1.3 20.0
Career 36 18.4 .459 .846 4.2 .5 .7 .6 9.3

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ "Porter dies from beating injuries at age 58", ESPN, updated May 28, 2007.
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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