Two-Sport Star Trealyn Porchia a Class of 2023 Name to Know
Two-a-days already feel like a phrase from yesteryear. But what about in two different sports taking place on the same day?
This was the late 2020 predicament for two-sport Texas sophomore high school standout Trealyn Porchia, who is an emerging recruit in football and basketball at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds.
For several days a week, the Beaumont (Texas) United star would wrap up practice on the gridiron and then change into clothes more suitable for indoor athletic activities.
"The days we didn't have football games, I would go to basketball practice," Porchia told SI All-American. "Three days a week I was doing both. After football practice, I would go to the gym for basketball."
When adding in team lifts, three-a-day workouts while navigating two simultaneous seasons weren't out of the question. Classes start at 7:00 am and some days Porchia wouldn't wrap up basketball until closer to 9:00 pm.
It was a willing sacrifice those around him agreed he could take on.
"The head coach for football and the head coach for basketball agreed that I can play both," he said. "It's really hard. I really don't get enough time during the day. I don't get to just be a kid and hang out with my friends. But I know I have to sacrifice things to get what I want."
It's working.
Porchia put his name on the college football recruiting map in 2020, working at both wide receiver and on defense, registering 700 yards receiving on just 30 catches while racking up 40 tackles and three interceptions on defense. Per Beaumont United assistant Rod Carson, Kansas and Troy have already offered a scholarship to the class of 2023 star.
In basketball, the wing prospect has made an even bigger impact, helping the 25-0 Timberwolves by chipping in 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Fittingly, Porchia picked up both sports around the same time and hasn't looked back in the decade since.
"I first started playing football when I was six," he said. "I think I was playing tight end at the time and I just was giving it a try because my mom wanted me to. I liked it, I liked to hit.
"Then the team that I played for, it was a youth team, they had a basketball team, too. After that I started playing with this Houston team and I just started playing more AAU ball. It was my sixth through eighth grade years."
Carson, who has coached varsity football in Alabama and Texas, says few athletes he's come across stack up to Porchia's raw ability.
"He was making plays at safety and he can run routes and jump over people," he said with a laugh. "He's just a freakish athlete, to be so young. He's a fierce competitor, very fierce competitor."
The coach says the tangible work ethic, evident with the two sports' scheduled merging more than any other year, pushes the potential over the top.
"What set him aside from anyone I've seen was when he was going between football practice to basketball practice in the same day," Carson said. "I've never seen that. The season was still going on and he was playing in (football) games while working through basketball practice.
"In 11 years of coaching I've just never seen it. It's different."
Coaches at BU estimate Porchia could wind up at wide receiver, tight end or on the edge in football. On the hardwood, he can float between shooting guard and small forward spots.
As for playing both at the collegiate level, that is to be determined.
The love for both sports remains, even if he gives one up once his prep playing days have passed by.
"In football I like the passing game and hitting," he said. "In basketball I like everything, defense, offense, scoring, shooting...everything."
The upside may be a bit higher as a pass-catcher, the Texan admits when it comes to a college projection.
"Probably receiver because DBs are short," Porchia said. "I already have the advantage."
Beaumont United is amid a deep state playoff run in the 5A classification.
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