ELKINS -- Jared Porter was already a head basketball coach, but there was something particularly exciting about the opportunity of becoming the boys head coach at Elkins.
Porter had served as the head coach at Mountainburg and then Hackett, but there was a different pull that was drawing him this time. He had played high school basketball at Farmington, and making the move closer to home was appealing. He also liked the challenge of moving up to Class 3A.
At a glance
Jared Porter
SCHOOL Elkins
POSITION Boys head coach
THE SKINNY Played at Farmington for retired coach Ronnie Davis. … Finished his collage career at Jacksonville State. … Current Florida Coach Michael White recruited Porter to Jacksonville State. … Was an assistant coach at the college level for five years. … Was a head coach at Mountainburg and Hackett before taking over at Elkins.
But before making that move, Porter wanted to talk to the coach who lured him out of the state 15 years ago to play college basketball for Jacksonville State. That coach just happened to be Michael White, who is currently the head coach of the Florida Gators and was an assistant at Jacksonville State back in 2000 where he recruited Porter out of Central Baptist College in Conway.
"Coach White told me it was a complete win-win," Porter said. "He knows how good this area is for producing talent and how good the area is to live in. He has recruited players from this area, and he is recruiting [Bentonville's] Malik Monk right now.
"He said 100 percent that I needed to pursue this job. This job was just too good to pass up."
Porter, who accepted the Elkins job in June, said he caught the coaching bug during his time at Jacksonville State.
"I learned at Jacksonville State that it is not all about X's and O's on the court," Porter said. "You have to be able to build relationships. Before kids are going to have success on the court, you have to let them know you care about them as a person. You have to be able to help them achieve their goals in the broader sense of life."
Porter said the transition at Elkins has gone smoothly.
"I'm excited to be here," Porter said. "They have great talent here, and I have always respected the talent here. Sports up here are the best in the state, and if you really want to be the best this is where you have to coach and live at."
Porter said playing for former Farmington coach Ronnie Davis also helped prepare him for every coaching stop.
"I consider Coach Davis as a mentor in coaching, but also in the correct way to live your life and mentor the kids," Porter said. "He taught me a lot of things on and off the court."
Davis said Porter's work ethic is second to none
"Jared was a talented player and he was a very hard worker," Davis said. "It's always extremely satisfying to see former players be successful in other fields, but I am extremely proud of Jared and what he has accomplished as a coach and teacher. He won a bunch of games for me, and he will win a bunch at Elkins."
Elkins lacks size, but Porter said the Elks' athleticism and perimeter shooting will be equalizers. Guards Caleb Shumate, 5-10, Hunter Casebolt, 5-9, Karsten Shackelford, 5-10, and Colton Vaught, 5-10, and forwards Ethan Camp, 6-1, and Austin Skaggs, 6-2, will all see time extensive playing time.
"We can put five guys on the floor that we think can stretch the defense where they can make plays off the dribble," Porter said. "We have to continue to get stronger. We just have to mask our weaknesses and expand our strengths.
"Our guards are all good shooters,and they can put the ball on the floor and make good things happen."
Sports on 11/08/2015