Howard Porter (basketball)

Howard Porter

Porter in 1972
Personal information
Born August 31, 1948
Stuart, Florida
Died May 26, 2007 (aged 58)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school Booker (Sarasota, Florida)
College Villanova (1968–1971)
NBA draft 1971 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32nd overall
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Pro career 1971–1978
Position Power forward / Center
Number 54
Career history
1971–1974 Chicago Bulls
1974 New York Knicks
1974–1977 Detroit Pistons
1977–1978 New York Nets
Career highlights and awards
*Selection later vacated
Career NBA statistics
Points 4,215 (9.2 ppg)
Rebounds 1,872 (4.1 rpg)
Blocks 212 (0.6 bpg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Howard Porter (August 31, 1948 – May 26, 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, and 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. 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] To the present day, the MOP for the 1971 Final Four is listed as "*Vacated".

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] During his time playing for the Pistons, he was nicknamed "Geezer" for his slow, deliberate stye of play and his long beard. He became a fan favorite at the Pistons then-home, Cobo Arena.

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 26 of injuries sustained during the assault.[3]

Local police arrested a 33-year-old woman named 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] Raleigh is now serving a life sentence for the crime.[7]

Howard Porter is interred at Washington Park Cemetery in Orlo Vista, Florida.[8]

References

  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", ESPN, updated May 28, 2007.
  4. ↑ http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S102932.shtml?cat=1
  5. ↑ http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_156132031.html
  6. ↑ "Man charged in murder of former Villanova star Porter", ESPN Men's Basketball, September 6, 2007
  7. ↑ http://info.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer/Inmate.asp?OID=198864
  8. ↑ "Howard Porter". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-12-01.