OFA guard Janero Porter officially signs with Tabor College

ON THE MOVE- MAIS All-Star point guard Janero Porter has officially signed with Tabor College from Hillsboro, Kansas. Photo by Matthew Roy.

By Jesse Brooks

AMITE- Janero Porter, a senior that graduated at Oak Forest Academy this spring, has signed an official full-ride athletic scholarship from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas this week. Porter first received the offer on June 2.

“It was a fun experience,” Porter said of his time looking back at OFA. “I didn’t know what it would be like transitioning from being a homeschooled student to attending private school but the friends I made here were amazing.”

Porter, a resident of Mandeville, transferred to Oak Forest for his junior season. He battled through injuries after arriving, causing him to see limited time on the court. However, he bounced back for his senior season to average 14 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals per game.

Porter flies high for a rebound. Photo by Matthew Roy.

“Janero helped lead our program as a point guard and he’s been a pleasure to coach,” Jacket head coach Curtis Matherne said. “The basketball I.Q. and the decision making is what separates Janero from a lot of point guards. He makes the right basketball play a high percentage of the time, which put us in a great position to win games.”

During his senior season, Porter received MAIS First Team All-District, All-State, and was a MAIS All-Star selection. Porter’s Yellow Jackets advanced as far as the semifinal round in MAIS Div. 1 AAAA, falling to Madison-Ridgeland Academy 65-63.

“The way he handles the basketball and passes the ball will definitely benefit Tabor and they will fall in love with him immediately,” Matherne said.

In the fall, Porter will arrive on a Blue Jay squad that is looking for a playmaker after finishing 14-15 last season in the NAIA. Porter is the second player from OFA to sign an official offer from an NAIA school in his class. On May 10, forward Chris Backa signed with LSU-Alexandria.

Though mostly unnoticed despite a strong season, Matherne expresses regret that more prospects are not on the radar of local Louisiana colleges. He also expressed that he believed Porter’s skill set will translate to the college game and hopes that his play will help influence scouts to start paying more attention to players closer to home.