Craig Porter Jr.

Craig Porter Jr. is an American basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the Vincennes Trailblazers and the Wichita State Shockers.

Early life and high school career

Porter Jr. was born on February 26, 2000, and grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he attended Terre Haute South Vigo High School. During high school, he was named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association's Senior All-State Team and lead his team to the 4A state quarterfinals.

College career

Vincennes

Porter Jr. started his collegiate career with the Vincennes Trailblazers, where he helped lead them to a combined 62–7 record over two seasons and a NJCAA national championship in 2019. After two seasons with the Trailblazers, he committed to Wichita State.

Wichita State

2020–21 season

In his first season with the Shockers, Porter Jr. played in 19 games, starting in two of them, where he averaged 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 12.9 minutes per game. After the season he entered the transfer portal but returned to the Shockers.

2021–22 season

In his second year at Wichita State, Porter Jr. played in 25 games, starting in 24, in which he averaged 7.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 26.9 minutes per game. After the season, he entered his name into the transfer portal. However Porter Jr. returned after two former Wichita State baseball players formed a name, image and likeness collective called Armchair Strategies.

2022–23 season

On February 26, 2023, Porter Jr. posted a triple double, recording 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while also adding three steals in a 83–76 over Tulane. He finished the season playing 31 games, starting in 30, putting up 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 33.6 minutes per game, earning third-team All-AAC honors. After the season, Porter Jr. announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility to declare for the NBA draft.

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Porter Jr. signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 7, 2023. On November 19, he recorded 21 points, four assists and four rebounds off the bench in a 121–109 win over the Denver Nuggets. On February 14, 2024, Porter Jr. signed a standard contract with the Cavaliers, being assigned several times to the Cleveland Charge throughout his rookie and sophomore seasons.