Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr. had back surgery in Dallas and is now expected to miss the remainder of the 2017-18 college basketball season, school officials announced Tuesday.
The procedure, according to Missouri, is a microdiscectomy of the L3-L4 spinal disks.
Statement from #Mizzou:
— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouHoops) November 21, 2017
Michael Porter, Jr. will undergo surgery on Tuesday, Nov. 21, in Dallas, Texas. The procedure, a microdiscectomy of the L3-L4 spinal discs, has a projected recovery time of three-four months and will likely cause him to miss the remainder of the season.
The expected recovery time is three to four months.
"I really appreciate the support of my family and the Mizzou men's basketball program as I begin this process," Porter said. "I'm thankful for all the kind words and messages I've received from fans. Those mean a lot to me. I cannot wait to be completely healthy and playing the game I love once again."
Porter was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2017, according to 247Sports, and is widely considered to be a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-10 wing played two minutes in the season opener before leaving after experiencing discomfort. He missed Missouri's subsequent three games before meeting with a specialist on Monday.
The next game for Missouri (3-1) is Thursday vs. Long Beach State in the AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando.
"Our top priority as a program is the well-being of our student-athletes, so Michael beginning this process to be 100-percent healthy is important to all of us," Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said. "Our focus has been on Michael's well-being, just like every other player in our locker room. We will continue to work everyday to build Mizzou Basketball into a program to be proud of. We're preparing now for a trip that is a tremendous opportunity. I'm excited to get after it in Orlando."
