In terms of the completely coveted, must-have senior prospects in Illinois, they’re fairly far and few between on this 12 months’s class.
However DePaul Prep’s Rashaun Porter matches the mildew.
The successful gene — he’s been part of three consecutive state championships — alongside along with his spectacular play this previous spring and summer season noticed Porter’s recruiting skyrocket. He turned the new title in recruiting circles.
There have been high-major applications poking round, whereas the mid-major applications have been salivating on the considered including the big-bodied 6-7 huge man. He was a particular precedence for quite a few faculties.
Porter took his closing visits the previous few weeks and dedicated to Toledo Tuesday night time, following his official go to this previous weekend.
Toledo’s background and historical past recruiting the Chicago space resonated with Porter. There have been quite a few gamers who starred on the Mid-American Convention faculty. Throughout the recruiting course of he talked with Simeon’s Sam Lewis and Bloom’s Dante Maddox about their time enjoying at Toledo.
Whereas that helped his determination, speaking with gamers he knew who performed for coach Tod Kowalczyk at Toledo, there have been different promoting factors that helped make his determination.
“Their enjoying model, how they will play me and develop me stood out,” Porter stated. “I fell in love with the event piece for certain and the way they plan to raise my sport to assist me get to the following stage.
“Having the choice made does really feel prefer it has taken some weight off my shoulders. I didn’t wish to be an undecided senior. I didn’t wish to wait and dwell with any remorse.”
Blessed with a robust body and base, Porter’s reshaped physique is college-ready. So, too, is the tenacity and each the bodily and psychological toughness he performs with.
With all of that he brings spectacular coordination and mobility for his dimension and place. Whereas his offensive sport continues to enhance and evolve, what faculty coaches rave about is each his rebounding and skill to defend a number of positions.
DePaul Prep coach Tom Kleinschmidt is aware of precisely what Toledo is getting, a participant who produces and is about the fitting issues.
“They’re getting a participant with a excessive basketball IQ and a participant who has been examined,” Kleinschmidt stated. “Plus, he’s a participant who’s hungry to get higher.”
Porter admits the faculty recruiting course of was the focus of the summer season. Now he says his consideration can flip again to what he can accomplish as a senior.
Porter, the Metropolis/Suburban Hoops Report’s No. 4 ranked senior within the Class of 2026, leads a DePaul Prep group that has its sights set on capturing a fourth straight title this season. Along with his faculty dedication solidified, that fourth title is all Porter will likely be enthusiastic about and targeted on.
“With this out of the way in which it’s time to deal with what’s subsequent,” Porter stated. “And what’s subsequent is making an attempt to get that fourth one. It might be nice to go away my title in historical past and go away a legacy.”
