LJ BB: Gone fishin'

Vikings forward Owen Porter (R)

passes on the baseline in scrimmage

against Santana. (Photo by Ed Piper)

Owen Porter has fond memories of fishing at a pond near his uncle's house in Michigan, and a fishing trip last summer to the Sierras. "We caught a lot of trout," the 6-foot La Jolla High senior remembers of the more recent jaunt.

Porter, who has fit himself well into Coach Paul Baranowski's basketball system ever since he began his junior year, gives a bit of a country flavor to La Jolla High basketball. Owen tends to be fairly quiet, he often smiles when interacting with others, and he presents kind of a "down home" persona that causes others to describe him as "nice" and he himself to say he's "easy-going".

The 17-year-old, who recently was accepted by Portland State University, then surprises when he says that his college studies could center around business management. He isn't fast-talking, he isn't flashy, and he doesn't fit the stereotype of either the high-powered personality some in sales exhibit or the polished, MBA-in-the-making that people outside La Jolla might hold of young people at the coastal school.

Given feedback to this effect, the hard-working role player on the Vikings varsity replies, "If I entered business, it would be something behind the doors, working quietly."

The lunch-pail image applies for Porter. He was inserted into the line-up and started most games his first season on the varsity because he follows Baranowski's mantra: Know your role and fulfill it. Owen, though he's not the one soaring out of the gym with his jumping ability a la some of the Lincoln stars of the recent past, stays within the offense. And on defense, he acknowledges, "I'm a defensive guy. When the team needs a stop, I try to do that."

As a senior, with a year of experience, confidence, and credibility as a starter, the Portland Trailblazer enthusiast realizes he has a greater leadership role than last year and that he needs to "step up" on offense, in addition to his defensive contributions.

"I'm really excited to have the season start," he said on the eve of the opener at Vincent Memorial in Calexico. "It was good to play at Grossmont," in which the Vikings took part in a round-robin scrimmage Nov. 28 against four opponents: Santana, Grossmont, Monte Vista, and Oceanside. He did a lot of sitting in the early segments, as Baranowski seemed to want to take a look at some other lesser-known quantities.

Another theme Baranowski, in his third year as head coach at La Jolla, drills into his troops is playing for each other. Owen seems to fill that bill, in both his on-court performance and his demeanor off-court.

A transformation that takes place when he steps onto the hardwood has been noticed by his coach. "Coach B asks me (jokingly), 'Why are you so mad on the court all the time?' We're just having fun with each other." But the relatively short forward does play with intensity and energy, with a stern face.

Early in his junior year, observers of La Jolla games might have wondered why this relatively non-descript, non-showy athlete was worthy of starting for the varsity. But his value to the team goes beyond his individual statistics. As college and pro scouting reports would word his unselfish nature, he's a contributor in the locker room.

Owen has an older sister, 27, and older brother, 23. His father Kevin barbecues his favorite hamburgers--"I eat a lot of hamburgers," Porter says--using a "secret seasoning" he buys at the store, but which Owen won't reveal. OP carries a 3.5 GPA in the classroom.

In further explanation of his interest in business management, Porter comments, "I've always had a leadership quality when it comes to making decisions in situations where the stakes are high." He isn't boasting. He observes that he has an ability to stay calm when the fur flies. "I don't freak out about a lot of stuff," he says drolly. This comes in handy on the basketball court, when things tighten up.

He adds, "I'm really bad with math in the classroom, but when it comes to money, I'm capable."

The Portland State-bound senior, breaking another stereotype, favors rap and hip hop music among his listening preferences. Currently, he's into Logic, a single artist from Maryland. "I like the rhythm of his songs. He has a good flow," says the La Jollan. But unlike some of his peers, he isn't one to wear headphones before a game to prepare mentally. He prefers to do that without music.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper