Kris Porter Weighs His Future as Ateneo Standout Considers Exit
Photo: UAAP Media Team
Kristian Porter, the highly touted forward who made waves in his rookie season with the Ateneo Blue Eagles, is at an integral moment in his young basketball career. After averaging 6.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in UAAP Season 87, the 6-foot-5 former Ateneo high school star now finds himself mulling over a potential departure from the program he’s long considered home, sources told me.
Porter, the younger brother of former Blue Eagle and current MPBL player Kris Porter, has deep ties to Ateneo. From Sacred Heart School–Ateneo de Cebu to Ateneo de Manila High School, his path through the Ateneo system has been steady and loyal. His commitment to Ateneo’s college team in May 2024 was framed as a continuation of a lifelong journey.
But less than a year later, the narrative is shifting.
According to team manager Epok Quimpo, Porter has been largely absent from team practices in 2025 as he’s been focused on catching up with his academics. However, sources say his reasons for potentially leaving Ateneo go beyond the classroom. “It’s personal,” one source said – suggesting a deeper, more complex motivation behind his looming decision.
Despite not having fully rejoined the team during their campaign in the 2025 AsiaBasket College Campus Tour, where the Blue Eagles reached the finals before falling to La Salle, Porter remains a sought-after talent. Multiple schools across the UAAP and NCAA are reportedly intrigued by him, with interest from programs looking to rebuild or bolster their frontcourt rotations.
If he transfers to another UAAP team, Porter would be required to sit out the 2025 season and forfeit two years of eligibility, leaving him with just two more seasons to play. A move to the NCAA offers slightly more leeway – he would lose no years of eligibility and retain four remaining playing years, though he’d still need to redshirt the upcoming season.
The choice isn’t easy. For a player whose identity has been so entwined with the Blue Eagle crest, leaving Ateneo would mark a major shift – not just professionally, but personally. Yet the crossroads he faces may call for a new environment, new challenges, and a clean slate.
What comes next for Kristian Porter remains to be seen. But as one of the most intriguing young forwards in Philippine college basketball, wherever he lands will instantly gain both talent and attention.
