Former hometown hero Michael Porter Jr. — the country's best player — is ready to return to Columbia and revive the Missouri basketball program.
On Friday, Porter Jr. announced through Twitter that he will play the next season with the Tigers.
"He had it in his heart to do it today," said brother Jontay Porter, adding that Porter Jr. made the Twitter announcement while he was at the gym lifting weights.
Porter Jr., the No. 1 recruit in the nation, spent this past basketball season at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, leading the Raiders to the Washington Class 3A championship and averaging 36.2 points per game. He spent his first three years at Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School.
He has big aspirations for his first year at Missouri.
"I'm looking forward to the year ahead with Coach Cuonzo and my new teammates," he tweeted. "Together we hope to restore the atmosphere at Mizzou Arena.
"MIZZOU NATION I'M COMING HOME!!!"
Less than a week on the job, new Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin has made Tigers basketball relevant again with the biggest splash in college basketball recruiting.
Martin hired Porter Jr.'s father — Michael Porter Sr. — on Thursday, and Porter Jr. shortly followed suit in joining him on Friday, meaning the entire family will be back in Columbia.
Just nine days earlier, the Porters were locked into Washington. The elder Porter was on staff, Porter Jr. was signed to a National Letter of Intent and Jontay Porter was fully committed to joining Lorenzo Romar's program.
A series of dominoes has fallen since then: Martin was hired and Romar was fired on March 15, Jontay Porter decommited shortly after, Porter Jr. requested out of his letter of intent and Porter Sr. joined Martin's staff.
Finally, on Friday afternoon, the big fish has been secured: Michael Porter Jr. will be a Missouri Tiger after all.
"This past week has been crazy just with everything flying around at the speed of light," Jontay Porter said. "This is a great place for us as a family, to stay close-knit and keep the family close."
Jontay Porter said that it was a lifelong dream for his brother to play in front of family and friends and that he is excited about the prospect of doing so. Missouri fans are, as well.