Southeast Missouri forward Michael Porter's career comes to an early end

Southeast Missouri State forward Michael Porter's basketball career has come to an early end. The school announced today that 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 head coach Dickie Nutt. "Mike can just about do whatever he sets his mind to and we wish him a speedy recovery and all the best."

Over two seasons with the Redhawks, Porter played a total of 32 games, making four starts. 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.

"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."

The Missouri native broke his foot in October of last season and was sidelined for the first 20 games of the 2012-13 campaign. At Missouri State, where Porter began his college career, he missed all but six games of his freshman season in 2009-10 due to an emergency appendectomy and a torn hamstring.  Porter was involved in a single-vehicle accident in June of 2010 that resulted in hip surgery.