Porter's career ends due to injury

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Southeast Missouri head coach Dickey Nutt announced Thursday that forward Michael Porter will not play again due to significant injuries sustained throughout his career.

Porter's most recent injury was a labral tear in the right hip, which required a second surgery.

"We are sad that Michael's basketball career had to end due to injury, but he will remain on scholarship to continue his education and finish his degree at Southeast Missouri State University," said Nutt. "Mike can just about do whatever he sets his mind to and we wish him a speedy recovery and all the best."

Porter played a total of 32 games and made four starts in two seasons at Southeast. He averaged 4.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.9 percent (56-of-102) from the field in that span. He also had one block, 16 steals and 20 assists.

"First and foremost, we are most concerned with his health and well-being. I am thankful for Michael's contributions to our program," added Nutt. "He has been an inspiration to me and our team, and I say this in all sincerity. He brought true passion to the sport he loved to play. Moving forward, we still see Michael as a valuable member of our program."

A native of nearby Sikeston, Porter broke his foot in October of last season and was sidelined for the first 20 games of the 2012-13 campaign. He made his return against Tennessee Tech on Jan. 19. Porter scored six points and grabbed three rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench before re-fracturing his left foot in that game.

Porter began his college career at Missouri State. He missed all but six games of his freshman season in 2009-10 due to an emergency appendectomy and a torn hamstring.

The former Sikeston High School standout was involved in a single-vehicle accident in June of 2010 that resulted in hip surgery and put his basketball career in jeopardy.

Porter transferred to Southeast in 2010-11, and after recovering from that hip surgery, was able to practice with the Redhawks although he was ineligible due to NCAA transfer regulations.

-- This story provided by gosoutheast.com