With the NCAA Tournament (and SEC Tournament before that) coming up right around the corner, the Missouri Tigers have received some good news, as their star freshman Michael Porter Jr has been cleared to return to all basketball activities. This is according to college basketball writer Jon Rothstein of CBS.

The Missouri Tigers have dealt with all kinds of injuries and transfers this year, but they still have put themselves in a good position to make it to the NCAA tournament. They currently have an 18-10 record and sit in a tie for third place in the SEC standings.

Michael Porter Jr. will be a big help for the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament if they can get him up to speed by then. He was the number one small forward in the country, and number two recruit in the country heading into the 2017-18 season according to his 247sports rating. If he is able to get back on the floor, that would make them a bigger threat in the NCAA Tournament, but the Tigers aren't so sure he will actually return to game action this season.

According to Jeff Goodman of ESPN:

Source confirmed that Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr., has been cleared for full contact. Source also told ESPN: “Not sure if he will play this season.”

Even if he doesn't come back to play this season, it will be interesting to see what steps he takes after the season. If he leaves school and is healthy he is still probably a top ten pick, maybe a top-five pick. He could decide to come back though, and really show scouts he is healthy next year, and then enter the NBA Draft.

Either way, if this guy can stay healthy, we will be seeing him on an NBA court soon.

The Tigers will face the Kentucky Wildcats this Saturday in Lexington, looking to avoid a three-game skid after back-to-back losses to the LSU Tigers and the Ole Miss Rebels.