Enormous news out of Columbia, Missouri today. Five-star recruit and possible first overall pick in next year’s draft, Michael Porter Jr., will undergo lower back surgery that would likely end his season.

After playing just two minutes in the opener against Iowa State, Porter remained sidelined with an injury. The university was unusually quiet about the injury over the past couple of weeks and I guess this is why. Porter will be having what they are calling a “microdisectomy of the L3-L4 spinal discs.” This will put him out for a projected 3-4 months, likely ending his season.

While there’s the chance Porter could return, back injuries aren’t anything to mess with so I highly doubt he jeopardizes his future by coming back. This is a big blow, not just to the career of Porter, but the any hope Mizzou had of making the NCAA Tournament. That seems unlikely now as the Tigers have struggled mightily without Porter, losing to Utah by 18 and barely beating Emporia State by 5.

Optimism was high in the air as Mizzou sold out of season tickets before the season began. Mizzou has not had a sellout at the Arena since March 5, 2013 against Arkansas. There are sure to be some disappointed season ticket holders.

Porter hinted before the season that there is a chance he would not be a one-and-done, but an injury of this magnitude may make him rethink. It is likely Porter would not be the first overall pick this season, setting the stage for a possible return to Columbia in the fall of 2018.