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". 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]
[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] Raleigh is now serving a life sentence for Porter's murder.[7]
Howard Porter is interred at Washington Park Cemetery in Orlovista, Florida.[8]
- ^ http://publications.villanova.edu/vumagazine/summer2002/a_basketball_story.htm
- ^ http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/porteho01.html
- ^ "Porter dies from beating injuries at age 58", ESPN, updated May 27, 2007.
- ^ http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S102932.shtml?cat=1
- ^ http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_156132031.html
- ^ "Man charged in murder of former Villanova star Porter", ESPN Men's Basketball, September 6, 2007
- ^ http://info.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer/Inmate.asp?OID=198864
- ^ "Howard Porter (basketball)". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19553016. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
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* Ruled ineligible after tournament
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