DARELLE PORTER, AT PITT.
Bill Neal: I am proud to share with you what is most special about having the privilege to write for this amazing and historic paper…the New Pittsburgh Courier! Because with it comes the opportunity to meet and write about some of Western Pa.’s greatest athletes.
Thus, the honor presents itself again as I have my moment in time with one of Western Pa.’s and the City of Pittsburgh’s greatest all-time athletes, Darelle A. Porter, better known to the basketball world and beyond as “DAP!”
I struggle and resist to remind you that apparently I must be 100 years old, because I’ve known Darelle since he was a high school football and basketball superstar at Perry High School. During that time the national basketball world made its way to Pittsburgh to covet the great Sonny Vaccaro—Dapper Dan Round Ball Tournament, and the seemingly endless pure gold basketball talent that this area was rich in. Most especially, the inner city roots of The Hill, South Side, East Liberty – Garfield, and Homewood.
DAP’s name is forever entrenched with the legendary players such as Chuck Cooper, Sam Clancy, Kirk Bruce, Kenny Durrett, Billy Knight, Jennifer Bruce, Bill Clark, Maurice Lucas, Ricky Coleman, Mary Myers, Maurice Stokes, Jeff Baldwin, Myron Brown, Bruce Atkins, Karen Hall, Simmie Hill, Norm Van Lier, Billy Varner, and endless superstars who helped make Western Pa. the bedrock of basketball talent in the nation.
In my 52 years of service in the W. Pa. community, I’ve seen the best of the best from 1968 to present and Porter checks all the boxes for greatness both on and off the court, and is worthy of recognition and most deserving of all that comes his way.
I applaud the man, the athlete, the coach, the mentor, and the family man and wish him the level of “Achieving Greatness” that he and his talented children seek as they open the door for the new adventure. I end my salute here and invite you to enjoy the magnificent words presented by his good friend Vernon Young as he breaks down all the finite details as only a true and talented friend can.
DARELLE PORTER, VERNON YOUNG JR.
Vernon Young Jr.: Long before there was a DAP2KK, there was a young boy growing up in the Hill District, watching men pour into his life when they didn’t have to. Those lessons would eventually shape one of Pittsburgh’s most respected mentors and youth advocates.
For more than three decades, Darelle “DAP” Porter has dedicated his life to developing young people through sports, mentorship, and community engagement. Hundreds of student-athletes have passed through his programs. Many have gone on to excel in the classroom, on the basketball court, in their careers, and within their own communities. Some have gone on to play sports professionally, and some still teach in their communities, but each of them credits Porter for his contributions to their youth development.
Yet Porter is quick to point out that his commitment to giving back was never created in isolation. It was inherited. The foundation was built by men who helped shape his worldview and taught him that success means little if it is not shared with others.
Carl Kohlman of Ozanam taught him the value of service and accountability. His legendary Perry Traditional Academy basketball coach, Chuck Franklin, demonstrated the power of leadership and discipline. Community ambassador Clarence Battle showed him what it looked like to be present, visible, and invested in the lives of young people. And Floyd “Zonk 5” Thomas embodied the importance of remaining connected to the community that raised you. Together, those men became living examples of what servant leadership looked like.
“Each of them was instrumental in shaping my perspective on giving back to the community,” Porter said. “They invested in me, and I always felt it was my responsibility to invest in someone else.”
That belief became his life’s work.
For years, Porter dedicated himself to helping young athletes navigate life through basketball. But while he was building a legacy in the community, he was simultaneously building one at home. Today, that legacy stands beside him. His daughter, Michaela “KK” Porter, carved out her own path as a standout collegiate and professional basketball player before returning home to Pittsburgh to coach at the collegiate level. His son, Darelle Porter Jr., known as DAP II, developed into a successful athlete in his own right, playing basketball overseas while building a growing platform and influence among young people. Together, they represent the next chapter of a story decades in the making.
DAP2KK—named after DAP, DAP II, and KK—was originally envisioned nearly twenty years ago as a family-centered nonprofit focused on youth development through sports.
Now, that vision is becoming a reality. Beginning June 8, the Porter family will officially launch a new era of DAP2KK programming, bringing together three accomplished athletes with one shared mission: helping Pittsburgh’s youth discover confidence, purpose, discipline, and opportunity. For KK, the opportunity to work alongside her father represents something far deeper than basketball.
“My father has always been an example of what it means to serve others,” Michaela Porter said. “Everything he poured into the community, he first poured into us. Being able to come home and continue that work beside him is one of the greatest blessings of my life. We always had a connection throughout life, but over the past few years, we’ve become friends. The values he and my mom instilled in us—service, discipline, accountability, and faith —shaped who we are, and through DAP2KK, we have an opportunity to pass those same values on to the next generation.”
For DAP II, the mission is about preserving a family legacy built on faith, sacrifice, and service. After experiencing basketball at the collegiate level and overseas, he says the lessons that have stayed with him the longest were never learned on the court.
“Family legacy means everything to me,” Darelle Porter Jr. said. Basketball opened doors around the world, but the values my father instilled in me are what truly prepared me for life. DAP2KK is about carrying those values forward and making sure the next generation has the same opportunities we had.”
Together, the Porter family brings an uncommon level of experience and credibility. All three have competed and started at the collegiate level. KK played professionally and now coaches college basketball. DAP II competed internationally and understands firsthand the opportunities sports can create. DAP has spent decades mentoring young people. That credibility is reinforced by the countless athletes whose lives Porter has impacted over the years, including standout basketball player and coach, Eddie Benton.
“The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Darelle is selflessness,” Benton said. “He coached me when I was a member of the Pittsburgh Jots AAU team and taught me what it takes to be an impact player at the Division I level. He also taught me what I needed to do to be a successful point guard once I got to college. Most importantly, he showed me what a true work ethic looks like. I watched him practice when he was a member of the University of Pittsburgh basketball team, and those lessons stayed with me. Overall, he is a prime example of what it means to give back.”
But perhaps the most powerful aspect of DAP2KK is not their athletic accomplishments. It is their commitment. Their commitment to creating a safe environment where young people can learn, grow, compete and be mentored. Their commitment to helping youth understand that their future is bigger than their current circumstances. And their commitment to ensuring that every child who enters their program feels seen, valued and supported. Because while not every child will become a professional athlete, every child deserves a chance to develop into the best version of themselves.
“Every kid needs development,” Darelle Porter said. “We are here to help, and we have a lot of experience doing it.”
DARELLE PORTER WITH HIS TWO CHILDREN, DARELLE PORTER JR. AND MICHAELA “KK” PORTER.