When Jontay Porter was ten, his father woke him up most mornings before dawn. He and his siblings piled into the family's Sprinter van and drove to an empty field house off the highway. Then, while their friends slept, they ran basketball drills with their father. "All I remember is it still being pitch-black outside, and the two dreaded double doors on the side of the building that would always be left open for us," Jontay told me recently. In the bleary moments just before one of his siblings tugged the field-house doors open, Jontay always secretly wished that they'd be locked. And, one morning, they were. Jontay smiled as he climbed back into the van and drifted off to sleep. But his brother Michael, Jr., who was seventeen months older, was furious. "Michael was the opposite," Jontay said. Jontay grew up in Columbia, Missouri, the fourth of eight children. His father, Michael, Sr., worked in Christian ministry, and his mother, Lisa, homeschooled the children. Both had played college basketball--Lisa, as a high-school senior, had averaged a nearly impossible fifty-eight points per game--and they saw the sport as their children's ticket to college. All eight of the kids eventually got basketball scholarships. By the time Jontay was sixteen, he was six feet ten. In most families, as a five-star high-school recruit, Jontay would have been the main attraction. In 2010, their father got a job on the coaching staff for the women's team at the University of Missouri. The men's coach spotted Michael shooting alone in the arena one night and offered him a full scholarship; he was still in seventh grade. When he accepted it, as a high-school senior, he was the top recruit in the country. His highlight reels had racked up millions of views on YouTube. N.B.A. scouts believed that he could be the next Kevin Durant. "He's a game-changer," a league executive told the New York . Big state schools turn their best athletes into local celebrities, but the hype that followed Michael to Missouri's campus on his recruiting visits was closer to Beatlemania. Fans asked for autographs and took selfies. Jontay, who came along, was seduced by the hysteria. "Frat houses are putting up posters, and he's literally treated like a king," he recalled. "I wanted to be a part of that circus." He skipped his senior year of high school to join the team, too. The brothers were best friends. Still, it was sometimes hard to be one of the top players in the country but just the second best in his family. "He got all the attention," Jontay said.

Women's college basketball team humiliates opponent with historical blowout & Hooters girls are BACK in NASCAR ESPN's Matt Barrie is a man of the people, tells audience to'unfriend' anyone with a wedding this weekend BOBBY BURACK: Far-left ex-ESPN wackjob Mark Jones is outraged that Florida didn't go Democrat during midterms JACKSON THOMPSON: Washington State Democratic Party calls girls' sports initiative unconstitutional Nick Saban speaks truth on CFP expansion: 'There's not 24 teams' that can win a national title, but money wins Judge accepts former Pittsburgh Steelers star wideout Antonio Brown's plea deal, sentenced to probation Ravens quarterback Joe Fagano's wife was lone bright spot in otherwise nightmarish outing College football fans face $2,985 hotel nights, $800 tickets and mortgage decisions for Saturday's CFP slate MLW's Josh Bishop vows he will be'the last man standing' as he challenges for world title at massive PPV Patriots star TreVeyon Henderson hospitalized after suffering'unusual' and'unexplainable' medical emergency Shaq reveals'fail-proof' retirement plan he created to make sure he stays rich, head shot & Woke 3.0 is here Woke 3.0 is off to a hot start as singer waves Pride flag while performing national anthem during NBA game Trump justifies Susie Wiles exit with need to'make moves' Americans will be grateful for Trump's actions against Iran in the long run: California Post opinion editor France's far-left protests put socialism in the global spotlight Data centers can be a'gold mine,' but not at communities' expense: Compass Datacenters CEO Alaska Senate race tightens as'Decoy Dan' scandal remains under speculation Canada's'dystopian' offer to American veteran sent her sprinting back to US health care system Trump urged to'move on' from Iran after midterm defeat The team issued a statement praising Swift's long history with Madison Square Garden after the guard's livestream comments I mean, they don't like him. They think you're so cool. No, no, no little whiners like you go to toxic masculinity. The New York Knicks are taking no chances with pop star Taylor Swift's allegiance to the franchise. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.

ESPN's Matt Barrie is a man of the people, tells audience to'unfriend' anyone with a wedding this weekend BOBBY BURACK: Far-left ex-ESPN wackjob Mark Jones is outraged that Florida didn't go Democrat during midterms JACKSON THOMPSON: Washington State Democratic Party calls girls' sports initiative unconstitutional Nick Saban speaks truth on CFP expansion: 'There's not 24 teams' that can win a national title, but money wins Judge accepts former Pittsburgh Steelers star wideout Antonio Brown's plea deal, sentenced to probation Ravens quarterback Joe Fagano's wife was lone bright spot in otherwise nightmarish outing College football fans face $2,985 hotel nights, $800 tickets and mortgage decisions for Saturday's CFP slate MLW's Josh Bishop vows he will be'the last man standing' as he challenges for world title at massive PPV Patriots star TreVeyon Henderson hospitalized after suffering'unusual' and'unexplainable' medical emergency Shaq reveals'fail-proof' retirement plan he created to make sure he stays rich, head shot & Woke 3.0 is here Woke 3.0 is off to a hot start as singer waves Pride flag while performing national anthem during NBA game Trump justifies Susie Wiles exit with need to'make moves' Americans will be grateful for Trump's actions against Iran in the long run: California Post opinion editor France's far-left protests put socialism in the global spotlight Data centers can be a'gold mine,' but not at communities' expense: Compass Datacenters CEO Alaska Senate race tightens as'Decoy Dan' scandal remains under speculation Canada's'dystopian' offer to American veteran sent her sprinting back to US health care system Trump urged to'move on' from Iran after midterm defeat OutKick Sports Women's college basketball team humiliates opponent with historical blowout & Hooters girls are BACK in NASCAR The WNBA was supposed to celebrate unprecedented growth, but instead squandered its biggest cultural moment on blatant incompetence, culture-war drama, player-safety failures, and relentless fan vilification. It's been a long week. But we've made it to another Friday. They can take every congressional seat known to man, but I will be damned if they take away a Football Friday. We're here, and we're gonna lock it in for a few minutes to end the week before starting another big weekend.

BOBBY BURACK: Far-left ex-ESPN wackjob Mark Jones is outraged that Florida didn't go Democrat during midterms JACKSON THOMPSON: Washington State Democratic Party calls girls' sports initiative unconstitutional Nick Saban speaks truth on CFP expansion: 'There's not 24 teams' that can win a national title, but money wins Judge accepts former Pittsburgh Steelers star wideout Antonio Brown's plea deal, sentenced to probation Ravens quarterback Joe Fagano's wife was lone bright spot in otherwise nightmarish outing College football fans face $2,985 hotel nights, $800 tickets and mortgage decisions for Saturday's CFP slate MLW's Josh Bishop vows he will be'the last man standing' as he challenges for world title at massive PPV Patriots star TreVeyon Henderson hospitalized after suffering'unusual' and'unexplainable' medical emergency Shaq reveals'fail-proof' retirement plan he created to make sure he stays rich, head shot & Woke 3.0 is here Woke 3.0 is off to a hot start as singer waves Pride flag while performing national anthem during NBA game MATT CALKINS: After years of threats and intimidation, the bullies in the women's sports debate finally lost MLW's Killer Kross faces biggest challenge yet as he defends world title against Josh Bishop at major PPV JACKSON THOMPSON: NH school district pays $275K after banning fathers for'XX' wristbands at soccer game Giants honor Rachel Apa after New York City Marathon death at age 24: 'She's in God's hands now' Ravens' playoff hopes hinge on Jacoby Brissett after third-stringer Joe Fagnano gets demolished by Jaguars Alaska Senate race tightens as'Decoy Dan' scandal remains under speculation Canada's'dystopian' offer to American veteran sent her sprinting back to US health care system Trump urged to'move on' from Iran after midterm defeat Larry David was the comic'least likely to succeed' before changing television forever, biographer says Turning Point USA volunteer described being slapped on Election Day: 'This shouldn't be the America we live in' Pro-life activist recounts chilling'Kirk' threat against Miami University campus display France faces unrest after hundreds of arrested at'Black Thursday' protests Illinois guard Quentin Coleman was floored after learning of Clark's attendance There has been absolutely not one single, not one single verified issue of racism. 'Finding your voice'... Who the hell are you to say? While Caitlin Clark may not be playing because the WNBA season is over, her presence still leaves people awestruck. No. 3 Illinois defeated Penn 112-70 at the State Farm Center, and during the postgame news conference, guard Quentin Coleman and forward Zavier Zens were flabbergasted when they learned that Clark had been in the stands to watch them play. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.

Putin accuses hockey organizations of'gross violation' as Canada bars Russia from World Juniors Victor Wembanyama does best Wilt Chamberlain impression with 50-20 night, says he can'still do more' JACKSON THOMPSON: Spanberger's office refuses to hand over emails on decision to drop women's sports petition Rory McIlroy assessed two-shot penalty after being caught improving lie, admits video'doesn't look very good' Jets bring in influencer Hannah C Palmer to cheer up struggling franchise, Shaq's finances & EMU smashes wall AEW star bleeds profusely during women's Blood and Guts match, earns respect from pro wrestling legend Sophie Cunningham reshares post-Election Day message: 'Personal excellence is the Ultimate Rebellion' Lions star Amon-Ra St Brown says Jack Campbell's harrowing neck injury puts things into perspective Former Obama strategist predicts'deepest' Dem presidential field ever in 2028 House Dems warn of subpoenas targeting Trump admin: 'Clear your schedule' Learjet's damaged tail raises new questions in deadly Florida crash Jim Clemente delves into the chance that Savannah Guthrie's fame played role in mom's kidnapping Border concerns grow after Democrats' midterm wins'Decoy Dan' ballot scheme was a'calculated' effort to trick Republican voters, Tom Dupree says Washington voters support measure separating boys from girls' sports OutKick Sports LeBron James sends cease and desist to'Bron AI' sports betting app over unauthorized likeness LeBron James has issued a cease-and-desist letter to an AI-powered sports betting tool that the NBA star says uses his likeness, a spokesperson for James confirmed. Anish Gupta, the CEO of the app Bron AI, released a video that features a person resembling James wearing a jersey with his nickname, Bron, and the number 23 . The character appears to be scrolling through players before stopping on Dillon Brooks, a longtime rival of James. Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James passes the ball during the second quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Nov. 2, 2026. Hell nah, the character says.

Say More Trending Now Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Mashable Selects Look Up Safety Net Mashable @Home In My Bag Versus Creator Playbook Getting Technical with Mashable All Series Today's will be easier for college basketball fans. As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans. Like the original, the game is all about finding the common threads between words. And just like, resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier -- so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest solution.

Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Safety Net Say More Look Up Mashable @Home In My Bag Versus Trending Now Creator Playbook Mashable Selects Getting Technical with Mashable All Series Today's will be easier for college basketball fans. As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans. Like the original, the game is all about finding the common threads between words. And just like, resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier -- so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest solution.

Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Mashable @Home In My Bag Safety Net Look Up Versus Trending Now Say More Creator Playbook Mashable Selects Getting Technical with Mashable All Series Fans call out Game 6 scheduling. Fans, creators, and commentators have questions. Olivia Tauber is the deputy editor of digital culture, covering creators, media, movies, beauty, and more. Based in New York, her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Cut, Teen Vogue, Complex, and Interview Magazine. She holds a Master's degree in Journalism from NYU and a Bachelor's from the University of Michigan.

NASCAR legend Tony Stewart's return to the Truck Series ends early with big crash at Talladega Trump says NFL'could've probably postponed' Paris game as France protests stretch police thin MSG uses Knicks championship rings as bait in phishing test, calls the lure'an unfortunate mistake' Fans are sick and tired of the NFL's obsession with flags, anthem fatigue is real & UGA football is too smart! Team USA's Olympic hockey heroes reunite as Jack Hughes' Devils land goalie Connor Hellebuyck in blockbuster France's top soccer team obeys police order to move Sunday match; Saints, Steelers owners meet with Macron AOC says she supports men in women's sports because she's a girl's girl Did Texas use artificial intelligence to call fourth-down play against Florida? LeBron James doubles down with sneaky golf hip turns during national anthem after Trump's'total disgrace' dig If Ilhan Omar's father entered US under'false pretenses,' it could trigger scrutiny: Attorney'Fan Mail Friday': First dates with'The Five' Michigan US Senate race is'still competitive,' Democratic congresswoman says Gina Hinojosa is'further to the radical left' than Talarico, Gov Greg Abbott says DOJ official says department is following a'web of information' on Ilhan Omar But I will say this practicing your golf swing during the anthem is childish, ridiculous, asinine behavior for somebody that was born to a 16-year-old mother, had to live at his friend's house and became a billionaire in the country that allowed him to do it. Dallas Mavericks star Cooper Flagg exited Friday night's game against the Indiana Pacers with an apparent shoulder injury after taking a hard foul while attempting a layup. In the final minute of the second quarter, Flagg made a great defensive play to intercept a pass and broke down the court for what was looking like a very easy layup for the second-year pro out of Duke.

Team USA's Olympic hockey heroes reunite as Jack Hughes' Devils land goalie Connor Hellebuyck in blockbuster France's top soccer team obeys police order to move Sunday match; Saints, Steelers owners meet with Macron AOC says she supports men in women's sports because she's a girl's girl Did Texas use artificial intelligence to call fourth-down play against Florida? LeBron James doubles down with sneaky golf hip turns during national anthem after Trump's'total disgrace' dig Drake Maye's end-zone interception proves costly as Patriots fall 30-24 to Bears in primetime Rhamondre Stevenson's miraculous 48-yard touchdown stuns Bears as clock expires in first half Todd Benzinger, who caught the final out of the Reds' 1990 World Series sweep, dead at 63 Super Bowl champion Marshall Faulk says he is living with Parkinson's disease NBA legend Charles Barkley says he won't'burn every bridge' like Aaron Rodgers as he considers retirement Enes Kanter Freedom says he was treated like a'criminal' at WNBA game President Trump touts his administration's border security at midterm rally in Florida Data shows Iran's shadow tanker fleet has run out of oil Court documents reportedly list Rep. Ilhan Omar under different name OutKick Sports Fans are sick and tired of the NFL's obsession with flags, anthem fatigue is real & UGA football is too smart! Dozens of readers voiced'anthem fatigue,' with some saying they've stopped watching NBA and WNBA games entirely The'Outnumbered' panel weighs in on WNBA players leaving the court during the national anthem. Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom also claims he was kicked out of a game after refusing to move from his courtside seat. October is flying by, and for good reason.