PORTLAND, Ore. -- These days Terry Porter often finds himself thinking back to the day he showed up on the campus of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.There had been no schools battling to recruit the young point guard from Milwaukee. The Panthers showed interest but couldnt offer him a scholarship. He arrived, like any freshman, unsure of his decision.But he did know one thing: He loved basketball.The journey that started at the Division III college a couple hours drive from his hometown long ago has brought Porter to the University of Portland, where hes charged with guiding a team of kids that are in so many ways just like he was.I liked the coach, and they had a couple of kids that were from my conference down in Milwaukee, so I knew I could room with them, Porter recalled. I tell our players all the time that theyre so far ahead of me when I was their age, because I didnt get a scholarship to play basketball. At Stevens Point there were no scholarships to be had. I was on grants and work study and things like that.Porter is in his first season as coach of the Pilots after some 17 seasons as a player in the NBA, then more than a decade as a coach or assistant in the league. He replaced Eric Reveno, who was dismissed last month after 10 years with the Pilots.Tapping Porter, who is beloved in Portland, was a savvy move thats generated excitement for the Catholic universitys program.It was a great hire, I think, for the school, said Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who played for the Pilots. Hes one of the Rip City legends in Portland. He has such a great class and reputation about him in the Northwest. I think its a fantastic fit. He brought more interest in the program just from him signing on than weve had in probably the history of the program.Porter played for the Trail Blazers from 1985-95, with a team that went to the Western Conference finals three times from 1990 to 1992 and to the NBA Finals twice. The starters on that team were Porter, Clyde Drexler, Jerome Kersey, Buck Williams and Kevin Duckworth, but the group would never win a title: In 1990, the Blazers lost to the Detroit Pistons, and in 1992 they couldnt overcome Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.Porter also played for the Timberwolves, the Heat and the Spurs over his NBA career. A two-time All-Star, he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals a game. His 7,160 assists rank 14th on the NBAs all-time list.After his playing career was over, Porter was head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons from 2003-2005 and for the Phoenix Suns during the 2008-09 season. He had stints as an assistant coach in Minnesota, Sacramento and Detroit.Hes not sure the young players on his team knew he was that Terry Porter when he was introduced as head coach. The only exceptions were his sons, freshman Malcolm and sophomore Franklin.They knew I played pro, but they didnt know if I had won championships, or all the teams I played with, or all the players I played with, and they wouldnt have known all the coaches I was blessed to work with, Porter said. They were just like, `Oh, he played in the LEAGUE, and he played for a long time. I think it made it a little bit easier for me, my body of work, because they were like `OK, he knows what hes talking about.Porter has never coached at the college level before, but hes already excited about sharing his experiences.Hes drawn on his contacts for advice. Porter even traveled to Miami to pick Spoelstras brain.We just met and talked shop, and it was fun. Swapping stories and talking about when he was here years ago and how excited he is about the job. I told him whatever he needs from me, Im here to help him, the Heat coach said.Porter also used his contacts in the sporting world to come up with some unique team-building activities. The group went to Seattle to spend a few days with the Seattle Seahawks, watching practices and hearing from coach Pete Carroll.He also draws on his experiences at Stevens Point, and his coach there, Dick Bennett.My college coach was the first coach I really learned a lot about basketball from, because my high school years were good, but I wasnt a great basketball player, Porter said. There was a huge amount of learning as my game progressed, and I definitely fell under the late bloomer category because I didnt have a great start.After four years at Stevens Point, Porter was the 24th overall pick by the Blazers in the 1985 draft. He remains Portlands career leader in assists (5,319) and is its third-leading scorer (11,330). He made 773 3-pointers on 2,006 attempts.At the Moda Center, just five miles away from the Pilots campus, Porters No. 30 hangs from the rafters.Ive been around basketball my whole life. The journey has been amazing. Its taken me to places I never could have imagined, he said. I have young men now, some who aspire to do the same thing as me, get to the pros or play overseas, and just to be able to talk to them and share my experiences is something Im proud to do.---AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.---More college basketball at www.collegebasketball.ap.org Jurgen Damm Jersey . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Guillermo Ochoa Mexico Jersey . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. 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MIAMI -- Ray Allen was wearing a pair of ski goggles to protect his eyes from the spray of champagne in the Miami Heat locker room last week, and assessed what it was like to be part of another NBA championship celebration. "It feels right," Allen said. "This feels right." Hes hoping things stay that way next season. Quickly tying up a loose end for the Heat, Allen exercised his $3.2 million player option Friday to remain with the club next season, when Miami will aim for a third straight NBA title. He wound up playing a huge role for Miami in this years title run, especially by hitting what he described as the biggest shot of his career -- a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left in regulation of Game 6 of the NBA Finals against San Antonio, forcing overtime and saving the season. Teammates, coaches and the Heat front office all made it very clear to Allen that he was wanted back for next season, with Udonis Haslem even stressing that to him as the team showered following the celebration that followed Game 7. Allen left Miami following the end-of-season team meeting on Tuesday without giving the organization an answer, though didnt keep people waiting much longer. He could have elected to become a free agent and wound up getting more years and more money in a new deal, and decided to stay with the Heat anyway. And after this playoff run, hes already part of team lore. The Heat were down by three in the final moments of Game 6, and the Spurs were moments away from celebrating a title. Chris Bosh got an offensive rebound and passed the ball to Allen, who was simultaneously stepping back to the 3-point line near the right corner of the floor. With no time to waste, Allen -- the most prolific 3-point shooter in NBA history -- let the shot fly, and it went through with a perfect swish. The Heat wound up winning in overtime. "There were so many moments down the stretch that allowed that shot to happen, and just incredible," Allen said at the teams parade this week. "So after GGame 7, I have to say that is the biggest shot Ive ever hit in my career.dddddddddddd." Allen turns 38 next month, yet still played in 102 games during the regular season and playoffs for Miami. That was the most appearances by any player in the league this past season. Allen averaged 10.9 points in the regular season, and 10.2 points in the playoffs. With the team exercising its option on starting point guard Mario Chalmers, and with Rashard Lewis and James Jones exercising their rights to stay for next season, the next major course of business for the Heat figures to be trying to woo Chris Andersen to stay when he becomes a free agent next week. Teammates believe Andersen, who has remained in Miami since the championship and is working out, wants to return to the Heat next season. The Heat will also have a large luxury-tax bill next season, though team president Pat Riley said earlier this week that he has not been given a mandate to pare a player like Mike Miller or Joel Anthony to relieve some of that burden. Rileys hope is to bring the roster back as intact as possible. Miller also made a memorable 3-pointer for Miami during Game 6 of the finals, connecting early in the fourth quarter moments after losing his left sneaker. Allen said hell look back at that shot as one of the best of this years run to the title, even though his shot will surely be more remembered. "That was amazing," Allen said. "For him to hit that shot, it was incredible." Allen signed with the Heat last summer, turning down more years and more money to remain with the Boston Celtics. Allen said earlier this week that he particularly enjoyed the camaraderie in the Heat locker room, especially the "Harlem Shake" video that became a global YouTube sensation midway through the season. "When I got here, within the first two weeks, I felt like I had been here for two, three years because the guys welcomed me in so warmly," Allen said. "Theyve been awesome to me." ' ' '