Howard Porter (basketball)

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Howard Porter (August 31, 1948–May 27, 2007) was an American professional basketball player. At 6'8" and 220 pounds, he played as a forward and a center.

Porter was born in Stuart, Florida. He attended Booker High School in Sarasota, Florida, where he was nicknamed "Geez" because teammates said he could leap into the air like a geyser. 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. 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.^[1]

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. His finest professional season occurred in 1976-77, when he averaged 13.2 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Pistons.^[2]

[edit] 2007 disappearance and murder

Howard Porter, who was employed as a county probation officer, disappeared on May 18, 2007. He was found severely beaten in a Minneapolis, Minnesota alley in the early morning hours of May 19 and died on May 27 of injuries sustained during the assault.^[3]

Local police arrested 33-year-old Tanya Washington in connection with the murder.^[4] Washington was later released by police, stating that there was not enough evidence to file charges against her. ^[5] On September 4, police announced that they had arrested and charged Rashad Arthur Raleigh with Porter's murder. ^[6]

Howard Porter is interred at Washington Park Cemetery in Orlovista, Florida.^[7]

[edit] Notes

1. ^ http://publications.villanova.edu/vumagazine/summer2002/a_basketball_story.htm
2. ^ http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/porteho01.html
3. ^ Porter dies from beating injuries at age 58, updated May 27, 2007
4. ^ http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S102932.shtml?cat=1
5. ^ http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_156132031.html
6. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3004682
7. ^ Howard "Geezer" Porter. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.

Preceded by Sidney Wicks

NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player (men's) 1971 (later declared ineligible)

Succeeded by Bill Walton