Markeia Porter is like the Swiss Army Knife of the Eastern High School girls basketball team. She can, and usually does, play every position on offense and she can guard every position on defense.
Last season the 5-foot-7 Porter helped Eastern reached the Seventh Region final for the first time, averaging 12 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while earning first-team all-region honors. So far this season she’s averaging 13 points and four rebounds for the 4-0 Eagles.
When did you start playing basketball?
I started playing basketball in elementary school, Mr. (Chris) Lightsy and Miss (Yolanda) Ballanger, were my coaches. When I was younger, like second grade, I used to get in trouble a lot and that was the only way they could control me, (expending) all of my energy running down the court playing basketball.
What’s your role on the team?
My role is probably being a leader and helping out the younger ones, since there’s only three seniors on the team, and scoring because I have a diverse game. Finding the advantage so I can score.
What are the team’s goals this season?
Goals is probably, obviously winning the state championship. Obviously beating Male and Manual because, past history we haven’t really beat them. Last year we beat Manual, but not Male. And just having a winning season, but overall just winning a state championship.
What did you learn from last season’s trip to the regional final?
I’d say not to give up. Because I felt last year we were there, but it was kind of like a first-time thing, we didn’t know what to expect, or how to do it. So I figure now we’ve been there, we know how far we can go and why not go for it.
Have you decided where you’ll go to college?
No not yet, but I want to play basketball.
Have you talked to any schools yet?
I’ve talked to a couple of schools. A Division II school in West Virginia, Glenville State (College), I’ve talked to them. Lipscomb (University) in Nashville. And that’s about it right now.
What’s it been like to see this Eastern program rise up the past few seasons?
When I came here, Eastern wasn’t really known for basketball. If you wanted to play girls’ basketball you’d go to Manual, because they’d been to the state tournament like every year. I don’t even think Male was any good before my class came, when I’Liyah (Green) came to Male. So I decided why not come to a school that wasn’t really good and just make it my own.
What do you like more, playing inside or outside?
I really don’t know because in the post I only have one move and no one has yet to stop it.
What is that move?
Just a basic spin move drop-step. I’m pretty sure everybody will say, ‘She’s going to spin. She’s going to drop-step.’ Yet no one has stopped it…My grandad always tells me, ‘You need some more post moves.’ And I’m like, ‘What’s the point in changing it if they’re not fixing. You’ve got to stop it first.’
What are your other interests besides basketball?
Right now I’m in the business program here. I’ve been in it four years. I’ve done the marketing, finance and right now I’m on entrepreneurship. So probably being a business major. Then, I like to be in front of big crowds, so I’ll probably take up broadcasting and be on TV.
Do you want to be the next Dick Vitale?
Yeah, like him, just like him. I like Rebecca Lobo too. Any female that’s on ESPN or SportsCenter, any of them, since it’s a male-dominated career.
What’s your favorite team?
Any team LeBron James goes to. Any team. It doesn’t matter, he could go to the 76ers and I’d love the 76ers. I have every jersey since he’s been in the NBA, every single jersey. The old Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, home and away and back to the Cavaliers, I have them all.
He’s the best player in the world. I feel like we have a similar game.
MARKEIA PORTER UP CLOSE
School: Eastern.
Year: Senior.
Sport: Basketball.
Student-athlete: Markeia, whose favorite subject is Senior English, has a 3.5 GPA. She is a four-year starter on the varsity basketball team.
Family: Markeia, 17, lives with her mom, Echal, and her younger brother, Daric, 13, and her younger sister, Na’cira, 11.
Eastern coach Josh Leslie says: Markeia can play every position on the floor, but has to guard the biggest people on the floor most times. She averaged a double-double last year and we expect more of the same from her this year.