Valencia High scorer Jared Porter signs with New Mexico Highlands
Valencia High’s Jared Porter signed with New Mexico Highlands in Tome, keeping his college career in-state after leading the Jaguars with more than 16 points a game.
Jared Porter chose to keep his next chapter close to home. The Valencia High School guard signed with New Mexico Highlands University in Tome, turning a strong scoring career with the Jaguars into an in-state college opportunity that keeps family, friends and local fans within reach.
Porter led Valencia in scoring at more than 16 points per game, production that made him one of the most visible players in Valencia County and helped explain Highlands’ interest. The signing gives him a chance to move into the Cowboys’ developmental program, where he said he is looking forward to playing against junior college and Division II competition while building his game at the next level.
The decision also says something about the value many local families place on staying nearby for college athletics. By choosing a New Mexico school, Porter preserved the chance for relatives to see him play without leaving the state, and he kept his basketball future tied to the same community that watched him rise at Valencia High. For a county where high school sports often serve as a point of pride and a pathway forward, that matters as much as any box score.
Porter’s choice also reflects the practical side of college athletics. He said he hopes to pursue a career in physical therapy, making the move about more than basketball alone. Highlands gives him a place to keep developing on the court while working toward a profession that can carry him beyond his playing days.
For Valencia High, losing its top scorer is a real competitive hit. Porter’s departure leaves a scoring gap for the Jaguars, but it also adds another name to the list of Valencia County athletes who have used strong high school seasons as a launchpad to college opportunities. His signing in Tome underscored that local schools continue to produce college-bound talent, and that staying in New Mexico can still be a meaningful choice for players who want their families close and their futures rooted in the state.
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