Scott County Central to honor Otto Porter Jr. this weekend

SIKESTON -- The Scott County Central School District and its community are ready to honor alumnus Otto Porter Jr. with multiple events this week.

In June, Porter, a 2011 graduate of Scott County Central High School, was selected with the third overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards.

Friday is Otto PorterJr. Day in Scott County. That same day at 6:30 p.m. inside Ronnie Cookson Gymnasium, Scott CountyCentral will dedicate the gym floor as the "Otto Porter Jr. Court."

"His signature will be applied to the gym floor on Thursday morning and covered prior to the unveiling on Friday evening," said Scott County Central superintendent Al McFerren. "We are anticipating a huge crowd on Friday."

There will also be recognition by several dignitaries and coaches including SCC boys basketball coach Ronnie Cookson and Scott County presiding commissioner Jamie Burger.

Former Scott County Central star Otto Porter Jr. was taken third overall by the Washington Wizards in the NBA draft in June. The school will honor Porter this weekend, unveiling “Otto Porter Jr. Court” on Friday and retiring his jersey on “Otto Porter Junior Day” in Scott County on Saturday. (Kathy Willens ~ Associated Press)

"If they're sitting on the fence and just thinking of coming out and showing support, Friday night is their opportunity to root for him and hopefully get a chance to shake his hand," McFerren said.

A recognition banquet to retire Porter's high school jersey set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Ronnie Cookson Gymnasium is sold out.

"The response [to these events] has been awesome," said McFerren. "The banquet has been sold out for a week, and we have a waiting list of people who weren't able to get tickets."

McFerren noted space allowed for 250 people at the banquet, which will include retiring Porter's number and jersey and presenting him with a plaque.

"There are a lot of athletes who've done well in their high schools, but the things we're anticipating that this young man will do go beyond that," McFerren said about Porter. "This is rarified here that someone we actually saw grow up becomes a professional athlete -- and not just someone that will make the team and ride the bench. We expect him to see quite a bit of playing time."

Otto Porter Jr. helped lead Scott County Central to three Class 1 state championships. He was later selected the Big East Player of the Year while playing for Georgetown University. (Southeast Missouian file)

McFerren said CBS affiliate, KFVS-12, will do a live newsfeed of Friday's and Saturday's events.

Wizards merchandise also be will available for purchase this week.

Before the dedication of the gym floor there will be items available for purchase in the lobby of Ronnie Cookson Gymnasium. The licensed NBA store, Pro Image, will sell items including name and number T-shirts, jerseys, hats, wristbands and lanyards. A portion of the profits will go toward the Scott County Central Booster Club.

"Otto was such a great student at school and a bright student and really perfect in so many ways," said Joann Nichols, who is a booster club member and a retired English teacher for Scott Central schools. "It's really a pleasure to help make a celebration or recognition of his achievement."

Morley mayor Jonathan McNeely said the town is availing itself to Scott County Central School District for this week's festivities.

"We want to do what we can," McNeely said. "We're proud of Otto and congratulate him on his hard work. His family are phenomenal people. They've been great citizens."

The city of Morley recently adopted a couple of items relating to Porter. Its council voted to place signs at the entrances of the community welcoming visitors to Porter's hometown. McNeely said the hope is for the signs to be put up this weekend and at the very least in the near future.

Also, McNeely said the town is designating Saturday as Otto Porter Jr. Day in Morley.

"For us, we want to make sure to give his family as much as anonymity as possible, but at the same time we definitely want to honor them," McNeely said.

Haywood City mayor Johnny Avance and Vanduser mayor Harold Gene Graviett are also slated to join in the celebration.

"We're urging anyone in Southeast Missouri who is a friend of the school or Otto's or a fan of Otto's to come out and show their support," Nichols said. "When he's playing [with the Wizards], he'll remember how many fans he has back here and know he has a lot of support in Southeast Missouri."

McFerren agreed, adding there's a personal connection between Southeast Missouri and their local athletes.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those of us in the area to have an affiliation with a professional athlete that is local," McFerren said. "I think it is noteworthy because the chances of it happening again are minuscule."