Otto Porter Sr. and Elnora Porter’s family consists of their one son Otto Porter Jr.

As the family has always been athletic, they encouraged their son to become a basketball player.

Porter went to Scott County Central High School, which serves Morley, Vanduser, Haywood City, and sections of rural Sikeston.

He won all-state accolades as a junior and senior, helping the Braves to three straight Class 1 state titles and delivering Scott Central its state-record 15th title overall. He helped lead the Braves to a 29–2 record his senior year, scoring 30 points and 14 rebounds per game. 

Porter, a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com, was ranked as the nation’s No. 8 power forward and No. 37 overall prospect in 2011.