LAYTON — Bobby Porter, head coach of the Layton Christian Academy boys basketball team, once had a chance to chat with the father of Danny Manning, who was a bonafide star at Kansas before having a lengthy NBA career including a stint with the Utah Jazz. During his conversation with Ed Manning, Porter asked him how it was to coach his own son. The elderly Manning smiled as he responded to Porter, who's now in a similar father-coach relationship with his son, B.J. Porter, at the small, private 1A school in Davis County.
"He started laughing," said Bobby Porter, who at the time was coaching at Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar High School. Manning, he said, then added, "It's great. Look, if somebody's going to mess up your son, it (may) just as well be you."
That, in turn, made Bobby Porter laugh.
"I love that comment," the Eagles coach said. "If he doesn't pan out, if he doesn't know how to shoot, you have to look at the person in the mirror because you're the coach."
With that being the case, Bobby Porter must see the reflection of a pretty big smile these days. After all, his son has done quite a bit more than just pan out — and B.J. is far from "messed up." And, yes, he obviously knows how to shoot.
Porter, the coach, said he's had a great time watching Porter, the star son, develop as a person and player over the past year. B.J. is a mutli-athlete standout, and he carries a B average at an academically challenging school. He also sings in his church choir and took time to help autistic children in the offseason.
On the basketball court, he's blossomed into a legitimate talent. He leads the entire state in scoring, averaging about 23 points a game. Porter is also dishing out nine assists and hauling in seven rebounds for the high-flying Eagles. The 6-4 shooting guard would be the heavy favorite to win a Utah high school dunk contest if it existed. He's even considering playing soccer and participating on the track team this spring.
The younger Porter's athleticism and sports sense is hardly surprising when you consider he's related to. He is a first cousin of Calvin Johnson, the Heisman Trophy runner-up from Georgia Tech who has a 45-inch vertical leap, a blazing 40 time and who's expected to be the first wide receiver picked up in the upcoming NFL Draft.
People might pay admission to see some of the one-on-one games at family reunions between B.J. and Johnson, who usually keep in touch at least once a month.
"That's really something. That's a dunkfest between him and Calvin," Porter said. "Calvin has a 45-inch vertical and he's built like a tank."
Porter said the collegiate superstar, who's the son of his wife's sister, has helped B.J., who has a 38-inch vertical, learn "how to handle pressure and keep himself humble.
"C's been really good for B.J.," Porter said. "He just gravitates to him and C does likewise."
Though B.J. has torn up the courts this season and in previous offseason camps — for instance, he was the 5 Star Camp Most Outstanding Player with the Utah Swoosh — Porter is surprised that his son isn't being more heavily recruited by instate schools. He is receiving interest from schools in the Big 12, Atlantic 10 and West Coast conferences.
"He's a finisher," Porter said. "He has the ability to make players around him better. He led scoring (in Utah) from 1A through 5A while being unselfish."
Of course, Porter the coach didn't start talking about his son when asked until after he'd beamed about the boys he coaches who aren't related to him. They might not be in his family tree, but Porter made it clear he has a fond affection for guys like Dominique Wilder, Brett Jones, DJ Lester, Mike Thompson, etc., who deserve accolades along with his own son for the second-ranked Eagles' outstanding campaign.
"They are having a great, great year," Porter said. "That's what makes me feel good — we have a total team."
It starts outside with the guard line with B.J. and his perimeter sidekick, Wilder, the team's point guard. The form a pretty special backcourt.
"Him and Wilder together are the best guard combination (in the state), 1A to 5A," Porter said. "As far as a guard combination, I'd like to see a better (one). I haven't seen it."
Porter credits Wilder for being one of the main reasons why Layton Christian is "tearing it up." He's allowed B.J. to move to his more natural position as a shooting guard, and he runs the offense at a fever pace while helping others get open and wearing out defenders.
"Dom is a little sparkplug. He's a Duracell. He keeps going and going and going," Porter said. "I have to tell him to slow down sometimes. He's a kid who never needs and energy drink."
Porter feels highly about the rest of his players, who teamed to win the Region 17 regular season championship and tournament and who are competing this week in the 1A playoffs. As a team, Layton Christian leads Utah in scoring average at just a tad under 80 points per game, including two games above 100. Coming into this week's tourney, the Eagles had a record of 19-2, including 14-0 in league play.
"This group," Porter said, "could play with almost in 5A team."
Brett Jones is another big reason for the Eagles' success. He is a newcomer to the state this year, and Porter only hopes more kids like him fall in his lap. The 6-foot-6 senior moved here from Evanston, Wyo., after being named first-team all-state as a junior in that state's biggest classification.
"Brett can play. He's a gentleman who can knock down the three, pass the ball, rebound, handle the ball," Porter said. "It's really fun to watch him play. He wants to win.... He's pretty athletic. He's wiry strong."
And he definitely gave the Eagles more versatility and strength inside and out since moving here with family.
"We were going to be good anyway," Porter said. "I had never heard of Brett Jones until he stepped in here and signed up. That made me feel good."
Porter can't say enough good about Lester, the football all-stater who is tearing it up on the hardwood as well. He's averaging a double-double and gives high-scoring LCA another threat.
"He's an incredible young man," Porter said of Lester.
The Eagles' other starter also gets big props from Porter.
"Mike Thompson," he said, "in the starting five would be a star in most programs."
On top of that, Porter believes he has guys on the bench who would be starters for a lot of 1A schools. He said he's "really blessed" to have such talent. And if there's anyone who knows about blessings it's Porter, who moved here six years ago to take a position with the Job Corps. Along with being the Director of Student Development at Layton Christian and the head coach, he's also the associate pastor of his congregation, the Second Baptist Church in Ogden.
As for that advice from Manning, Porter tries not to mix hoops with home. He said "it's fun" to be his son's coach, but he also enjoys being B.J.'s father.
"This is a game. Once it's over, you don't take it home," he said. "You've got to be well-rounded, a renaissance man. You can't be if you keep harping on things."
And basketball fans around the state should get used to a Porter from Layton Christian sizzling the nets over the next few years. Porter, the father, also has another child at the school. That would be Jasmine Porter, the girls basketball rising star. She's 6-foot-1 and scored 10.6 points per game for the LCA girls team, which also had a nice season.
We'll leave the "Who's the best player in the family" discussion to the family dinner table.
E-mail: jody@desnews.com