By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Former East Central High standout Hollis Porter is headed back to the major college level.
After leaving Mississippi State after one season, Porter spent this past season compiling one of the best seasons statistically in the long and storied history of the Pearl River Community College program. That outstanding play earned him a shot at bouncing back, this time to the Big 10 Conference after he committed to the University of Maryland earlier this week.
Porter, who helped lead East Central to its first of back-to-back Class 5A state championships in 2022, posted a .399 batting average with a school record 20 home runs and 73 RBIs en route to earning NJCAA First Team All-American honors. His 73 RBIs were the second-most in a single-season in program history.
Porter’s honor from the NJCAA marked the sixth consecutive season that the Wildcats have had at least one selection on either the first or second team. His teammate Bryce Fowler took home Second Team honors. 
“What an incredible year for Hollis and Bryce,” PRCC head coach Michael Avalon said. “It was very special watching these two young men play at such a high level throughout the year. Both are extreme competitors, and they both push each other to be their best.”

His commitment to the Terps and head coach Matt Swope is just part of an offseason that has been full of awards for Porter. He was also named Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference  Player of the Year, First Team All-MACCC, All-Region 23, and Region 23 Gold Glove.
Porter was a mismatch from the start of the season until the end for the opposition, wrapping up his lone season in Poplarville with 21 doubles and four triples in addition to his 21 homers to end the year with 45 extra-base hits. He also had a .827 slugging percentage. 
The 6-foot-4 first baseman was no slouch with the glove either, as he converted 383 of 388 total chances. He helped turn 29 double plays.
“Statistically, Hollis finished with one of, if not the greatest, season in the history of Pearl River baseball,” Avalon said. “Hollis joined the likes of Rhyne Hughes, Tate Parker, Alex Perry, Meaux Landry and many other great Wildcats. More impressive than the numbers he put up was watching him work and prepare each day and the positive attitude he consistently showed this team.”
Porter and Fowler make 16 All-America selections for Pearl River in its history, joining Greg Guidry (First Team; 1994), Jake Smith (Second Team; 2003), Rhyne Hughes (First Team; 2004), Craig Rodriguez (First Team; 2005), Kyle Lindsey (First Team; 2008), Krisjon Wilkerson (Second Team; 2013), Meaux Landry (Second Team; 2018), Wiley Cleland (Third Team; 2019), Graham Crawford (Third Team; 2021), Landon Gartman (First Team; 2021), Alex Perry (Third Team; 2022), Tate Parker (First Team; 2021-22) and Cooper Cooksey (Second Team; 2023).