Craig Porter Jr.

Craig Porter Jr., born on February 26, 2000, is a rising star in the world of professional basketball. An American player from Terre Haute, Indiana, Craig no longer walks down suburban avenues but instead strides down the high-energy courts of the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coupled with his strong presence in the NBA, he holds a prominent position within the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League under a two-way contract.

Craig’s journey to stardom began in a little corner of the NBA world known as the Terre Haute South Vigo High School. This provincial setting marked the starting line of his illustrious basketball journey. In those early days, the humble high school courts in Indiana served as vast battlegrounds of challenges and learning opportunities for Craig.

After a successful stint at local level, Craig chose to advance his skills further by enrolling at Vincennes University, home to the formidable Vincennes Trailblazers. Playing two hard-fought seasons with the team, Craig proved instrumental in steering the Trailblazers towards a record-breaking 62-7 statistic over the two seasons, and a crowning achievement – the NJCAA national championship in 2019.

His impressive performances did not go unnoticed, and the offers poured in. Among these, the most tempting was from Wichita State, and he decided to commit to the Shockers. Craig’s first hardworking season saw him cradling the ball in 19 games; starting two and averaging 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Although he veered towards a decision to transfer, the valuable experiences learned in the first concluding season had him pivot back to the Wichita State Shockers.

The second session with the Shockers brought forth an even more intensified playing style for Craig. He participated in 25 games, starting practically all of them except one. Every game witnessed an average of 7.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists over an average duration of 26.9 minutes. After this victorious season, he decided to explore the transfer portal again. However, the bonds formed in Wichita State ran deep and, as an acknowledgement to the role of his fellow base ballers who had set up the Name Image and Likeness Collective under Armchair Strategies, his loyalty kept him rooted.

Then came a historic day for Craig – February 26, 2023. In the game against Tulane, he ended up with a triple double – recording 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Craig continued to show his reliability and versatility, and at the end of the season, he had participated in 31 games, started in 30, and averaged an impressive 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. His contributions led him to be named to the Third Team All-AAC conference team. Eager to explore new challenges and push his limits, he announced his decision to forgo his final year of college eligibility to declare for the NBA draft.

Despite the fruitful college years, the NBA draft of 2023 had its twists. Going undrafted, Craig quickly mindful of the setback, kept a sharp eye out for new opportunities and on July 7, 2023, he signed a coveted two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Today, Craig Porter Jr. continues to carve his name into the annals of basketball. As a testament to his fighting spirit and relentless pursuit of excellence, on November 19, he recorded 21 points, four assists, and four rebounds in a game that led his team to a thundering 121-109 victory over Denver Nuggets.