Howard Porter (basketball) facts for kids
Porter in 1972
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 31, 1948 Stuart, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | May 26, 2007 (aged 58) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| High school | Booker (Sarasota, Florida) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Villanova (1968–1971) |
| NBA Draft | 1971 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32nd overall |
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
| Pro career | 1971–1978 |
| Career history | |
| 1971–1974 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1974 | New York Knicks |
| 1974–1977 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1977–1978 | New York Nets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 4,215 (9.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,872 (4.1 rpg) |
| Blocks | 212 (0.6 bpg) |
Howard Porter (born August 31, 1948 – died May 26, 2007) was a talented American professional basketball player. He was very tall at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) (about 203 cm) and weighed 220 lb (100 kg) (about 100 kg). He mostly played as a forward or a center on the court.
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Early Life and High School Basketball
Howard Porter was born in Stuart, Florida. Even when he was in 8th grade, he was so good at basketball that he played on the main team at Stuart Training School. This was the high school for Black students in Martin County at the time.
Later, he went to Booker High School in Sarasota, Florida. The best part of his high school basketball career was in 1967. That year, he led his Booker team to win the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A State Basketball Championship.
College Career at Villanova
After high school, Porter played college basketball at Villanova University. He was chosen as an All-America player three times, which means he was one of the best college players in the country.
In 1971, he helped Villanova reach the NCAA Championship Game. This is a huge tournament for college basketball teams. Villanova played against UCLA in the final game and lost 68–62.
Even though Villanova lost, Porter was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player (MOP). He scored 25 points in that final game. However, he later lost this honor. This happened because he had signed a professional contract with the Pittsburgh Condors team during his last year of college. Because of this, the MOP award for the 1971 Final Four is still listed as "Vacated" (meaning it was taken away).
Professional Basketball Career
Even though he signed with the Condors, Howard Porter never played for them. Instead, he joined the NBA with the Chicago Bulls in 1971.
He played for seven seasons in the NBA. During his career, he was a player for the Bulls, the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons, and the New Jersey Nets.
His best season as a professional player was in 1976–77 when he played for the Detroit Pistons. In that season, he scored an average of 13.2 points and grabbed 5.9 rebounds per game. He even played alongside his former Villanova teammate, Chris Ford, on the Pistons.
Fans at the Pistons' home arena, Cobo Arena, really liked Porter. He was given the nickname "Geezer" during his time at Villanova, and it stuck with him.
Life After the NBA
Howard Porter stopped playing in the NBA in 1978 when he was 29 years old. His career ended early because of injuries, including a serious blood clot in his lungs.
In 1995, he started a new job. He worked as a probation officer for Ramsey County, helping people who were on probation.
Later Years and Passing
Howard Porter passed away on May 26, 2007. He is buried at Washington Park Cemetery in Orlo Vista, Florida. He is survived by his three children: Ebony, Howard Jr., and Keelee.
