For Porter, Hard Work Brings Profit

Every team is made up of a combination of different parts. There are star players, and there are role players. There are standout performers, and there are “behind the scenes” guys. Or, as one coach once described it to me, there are “piano pushers,” and there are “piano players.”

“Piano pushers” never really get any headlines in today’s society, which is obsessed with superstars and highlights. Watch enough ESPN documentaries about Michael Jordan, for example, and you might eventually become convinced he won all 6 of his NBA championships by himself.

However, every team needs blue-collar, tough-minded, ego-less players in order to be successful. Guys who don’t mind doing the dirty work, guys who don’t need credit or accolades. Every team needs piano pushers.

For the Patrick Henry Patriots, senior center Paul Porter is a piano pusher — a hard worker through and through. And for a Patriots team that just completed a magical 21-5 season that ended in the VHSL Group AAA State Semifinals, Porter’s role was irreplaceable.

Porter is listed at 6’4”, and to be honest, it might be just a bit generous. And yes, he played center this season for the Patriots. Over the past couple of seasons he’s had the unenviable task of tangling with the likes of Marshall Plumlee (7’0”) of Christ School in N.C. (who is currently being recruited by Duke), Andre Washington of Franklin County (6’9”) and Josh Henderson of Cave Spring (6’11”), among others. He’s been physically overmatched each game from a height perspective.

But Porter finds a way to compete, and make a difference, game in and game out.

How?

“It’s real simple: he outworked and outsmarted everyone he played this season,” Patriots Head Coach Jack Esworthy said.

Porter agrees with the assessment. “I just have to play harder than everyone else, and want it more than everyone else.”

It’s been an interesting journey for Porter over his four seasons at Patrick Henry. In fact, he didn’t even play basketball until his freshman year. Up until then, he had always played football.

The first couple of seasons were rough. So much so, that Esworthy admitted to wondering whether or not Porter would ever have a future with the varsity. But he didn’t give up on Paul.

“I told myself I would never do that to a kid who worked as hard as Paul worked, who gave as much effort as he did,” Esworthy said.

On and Off The Court

Paul’s work ethic extends well off the basketball court. To afford a car, along with car insurance, gas money and his cell phone, Porter works 20-25 hours a week at K-Mart. He is a terrific student — currently taking four AP classes at Patrick Henry.

Most kids his age don’t have to shoulder such responsibility. But Paul does do without complaint.

“I’m going to work hard at whatever I do, and I see that as a way of being successful in life,” he says of his job and his studies. “At some point you have to learn to take care of yourself.”

Of course, Porter is also a gym rat, spending countless hours in the gym with fellow players and coaches, honing his game.

But it almost ended far too early for Paul. Prior to the season, doctors noticed an abnormality with Porter’s heart, which nearly prevented him from playing. He wasn’t cleared until a week before the season, though the problem still remains a bit of an unsolved mystery.

Having basketball nearly taken from him didn’t scare Porter. His health didn’t worry him. Rather, the situation motivated him.

“You know, it made me realize that you only live once, that it could all be over just like that, so you gotta make the most out of it.”

“I tell people that we cleared our biggest hurdle to winning the district the day they cleared Paul,” Esworthy said.

Back on the court, Paul went back to being a piano pusher. Grabbing key rebounds. Leading the team in charges taken. Playing stifling defense. Competing. Working.

College coaches have taken notice. In fact, Paul is being recruited by two local schools: Roanoke College and Averett University.

Like I said, every team needs piano pushers.