Endless workouts in the gym and lifting in the weight room had become the norm for rising senior Rashaun Porter.
But the DePaul Prep standout looked in the mirror and realized what needed to be done.
“I needed to quit eating the garbage I was eating before bed,” Porter said. “I needed to change my diet and improve my body.”
The 6-7 Porter, who put up nearly 13 points and eight rebounds a game this past season as a junior, has followed through. He looks longer and leaner while admittedly feeling stronger and quicker.
“The stuff I would eat and the time I would eat it — I ate a lot right before I would go to sleep from getting home late — just added more fat,” Porter said. “I had to change my diet and work on time management of when I eat. You can see the difference in my body fat and the muscle I’ve built.”
As a result, Porter’s game has expanded and the college interest has exploded. He’s a different player, even compared to the one that helped fuel DePaul’s run to a third straight state title in March.
A coveted mid-major prospect with high-major programs intrigued, Porter is ready to showcase even more in the upcoming “live” period.
Porter says his confidence has grown as a result of being a more versatile player. He’s still a dominating force around the basket and can guard just about any position, but he’s more athletic, more explosive off the floor. He’s playing above the rim and his skill level continues to be refined.
DePaul Prep coach Tom Kleinschmidt has watched up close the transformation in his star player — in all phases of life.
“I have not witnessed a person elevate his maturity, leadership, commitment to his body, improve on his strengths and, more importantly, his weaknesses more than Rashaun Porter has in the past 12 months,” Kleinschmidt said. “The multiple areas he has improved on, on and off the court, has been a pleasure to watch. He’s special.”
As a player who has never suffered a season-ending loss in his high school career, Porter is viewed as a winner. But it’s more than the wins and the titles. Porter chips in to help a team any way he can, doing the little things while also taking on the heavy lifting when needed.
“That mindset comes from being a competitor,” Porter said. “I go by the mindset of I don’t care how I win or what it takes to win, I just want to win. Whether I don’t score a point and get 10 rebounds, five blocks and five assists or whether I score 27 points. I really don’t care what the stats are.”
Porter will begin sorting out the recruiting process very soon.
“I don’t really care where I go, whether it’s far or close to home, high-major or mid-major,” Porter said. “I want a place that makes me feel like it’s home. I want a place that values brotherhood.”
Porter is also looking for a program with the type of mindset he personally brings and believes in.
“Everyone says they have it, but I am looking for a school and program where it’s we over me,” Porter said. “I know with all the transfers and the portal you can’t easily have a family because no one stays. But I want a system that takes away the selfishness in players, whether you came yesterday or you’ve been there for a year.”