MU freshman Michael Porter Jr. remains out indefinitely because of leg injury

Missouri basketball’s star freshman Michael Porter Jr. missed the Tigers’ game against Wagner on Monday, and his status going forward remains day to day.

A team spokesperson said Porter, one of the country’s top prospects coming out of high school, is “under evaluation by Mizzou’s trainers and doctors.” Coach Cuonzo Martin only said that Porter’s left leg is where the injury is. He did not offer specifics.

“I don’t know how serious (the injury is),” Martin said. “It’s hard for me to say that, but I think it’s day to day. That’s the best assessment for me to say right now. It’s day to day.”

Asked whether Porter had sought a second opinion, Martin offered a different version of the same answer.

“I understand you want that information,” Martin said. “We just played a team. … The truth of the matter is I’m not a doctor. I can’t give you more than that. I don’t want to give you more. It’s not my job to give.

“So out of respect for Mike, his family, I think the best thing is it’s day to day. If I had more, I’d give you more.”

Martin was unsure whether Porter would travel with the Tigers for their game at Utah on Thursday. Mizzou guard Kassius Robertson said the star freshman did not practice on Sunday.

Porter did not join his teammates on the Missouri bench for the game. A team spokesperson said Porter was staying in the locker room because it was easier on his leg than sitting or standing on the bench would be. During the game, Porter posted a story on his Instagram from the team’s locker room.

“I’m sure as you can imagine, any player would be upset that they don’t get to play in their first year at college,” said freshman forward Jontay Porter, Michael’s younger brother. “But he’s handling it well. He’s rehabbing. He’s day to day right now. Hopefully he’ll be ready the next game, but we’ll see. There’s no telling.”

Michael Porter played just the first two minutes of MU’s season-opening win over Iowa State on Friday. Martin said Porter told him before the Iowa State game that he was “not feeling right.” The freshman forward held ice on his left hip once he came to the bench in that game.

“So that was pretty much it,” Martin said Friday. “I had to talk to the doctor, trainers, Mike, but he was in the (scorer’s) book, so that’s why he was on the floor. If we didn’t have him in the book, I wouldn’t have him on the floor. I just think again his safety, his health is most important. It doesn’t matter who we play.”

Mizzou point guard Blake Harris left the first half of the Wagner game because of an injury. Martin said he was “not sure” what injury Harris has.

“He’s not sure, just his leg,” Martin said of Harris. “We’ll see how it goes in the morning, but I don’t know right now.”

This story was originally published November 13, 2017 at 7:09 PM with the headline "MU freshman Michael Porter Jr. remains out indefinitely because of leg injury."