Michael Porter Jr. to Undergo Spinal Surgery, Miss Remainder of Season

After just two minutes of playing time, Michael Porter Jr. has apparently seen his season end.

Missouri announced Tuesday its star freshman will likely be out for the remainder of the year due to a back injury. Porter will undergo a microdiscectomy of the L3-L4 spinal disks Tuesday with a projected recovery time of three to four months.

The forward only appeared in the first game of the season against Iowa State and scored two points in two minutes.

The highly touted recruit was the No. 1 small forward and No. 2 player overall in the 2017 class, per 247Sports. He also finished in a three-way tie with Georgia's Yante Maten and Texas A&M's Robert Williams for the SEC's Preseason Player of the Year. 

Unfortunately, he had been limited with what was an unknown injury. The school initially characterized it as a hip injury, and he missed Monday's win over Emporia State to see a specialist. The upcoming surgery ended up being the worst-case scenario.

Many were disappointed with the news:

Considering Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com rated Porter as the No. 2 player in the 2018 class, it would be a surprise if he returns to Missouri for another season.

Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com spoke to multiple NBA general managers who told him that as long as Porter's back "checks out," he will remain a likely top-five selection in the NBA draft.

Missouri is 3-1 in its first year under Cuonzo Martin but could have a tough time competing without its most talented player.