SABRATON – It isn’t very often at all that a college basketball career begins with boot camp.
That’s the case for Trinity Christian senior guard Austin Porta, who signed to continue his academic and athletic careers with the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Tuesday at Trinity Christian School.
After graduation this summer, Porta will head to Nassau County, New York, to begin boot camp on July 9 at the federal service academy.
“It offers so much, “ Porta said. “What’s unique about the Merchant Marine Academy is that they break the school year into trimesters, and one of those is a sea year where you travel and get hands-on experience. I’m going to be able to visit countries all around the world, and being able to do some of those things before I leave college is priceless to me.”
Along with the opportunity he has academically and towards the future of his career, Austin will become a member of the USMMA men’s basketball team.
“We sent Coach Pryor film and then had a great conversation with him over the phone,” Porta said. “I went for a visit last May and really enjoyed the campus and all the athletic facilities. We kept chatting back and forth and have built a great relationship.”
Austin says that being able to play basketball and chase his future career dreams is like two dreams in one.
“I was having a hard time choosing where I wanted to go at first,” he said. “But after I sat down and really thought it through, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass on. I have a chance to travel and see the world. I have the chance to play basketball. And I’m going to be able to do everything I’ve wanted to do.”
Porta earned WVSWA Class A all-state second-team honors this past season for TCS, averaging 22.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game as a senior.
He shot 44 % from the field, including 42% from 3-point range and 91% from the free-throw line. Porta hit 100 of his attempts from long range this season on his way to all-state honors, and even captured the OVAC 3-point contest championship at OVAC all-star weekend before helping Team West Virginia to a victory over Team Ohio.
“Coming to Trinity after my freshman year really allowed me to have this opportunity to play college basketball,” he said. “It just gave me the right tools I needed to be the player I am now and to prepare to play at the next level.”
