After spending his entire life under the Jesuit system, Kristian Porter has decided on his next destination: University of Santo Tomas.
The 6-foot-5 forward revealed that multiple schools reached out to recruit him following his departure from Ateneo, including two UAAP universities and two NCAA colleges.
But in the end, it was UST’s culture that won him over.
“One of the biggest reasons I chose UST was because of the quality of education — it’s something I really value for my future beyond basketball,” said the 19-year-old Cebuano.
Helping to introduce him to the UST campus and community was Growling Tigers floor general Forthsky Padrigao, who toured him around a couple of weeks ago.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Forthsky also played a huge part in introducing me to the school’s culture. The sense of community and tradition here really stood out to me,” Porter added.
In his rookie year with Ateneo, Porter averaged 6.57 points and 6.86 rebounds across 14 games.
“Coach Pido (Jarencio) also shared his vision for me, and I’m excited about the role he wants me to play moving forward,” he said.
Porter will have to serve a one-year residency before suiting up for UST in UAAP Season 89. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
“While I sit out my residency year, I’m planning to stay in shape, keep working on my game, and sharpen my skills. I also want to make the most of my time off the court by focusing on my studies and settling in at UST,” he shared.
“It’s a fresh start for me, and I want to do it right both as an athlete and as a student.”
