Justin Gant honors Jackie Porter

Terre Haute, Ind.(WTHI) - Indiana State sophomore Justin Gant is playing the best basketball of his Sycamore career. Last Tuesday in a home win against Winthrop Gant scored a career-high 14 points.

Little did anyone know Gant's performance versus Winthrop was for one Sycamore fan. On his shoes, the ISU big man wore the initials JP, in honor of Jackie Porter.

Porter was one of Gant's biggest supporters. The two knew each other from his time at Terre Haute North high school. Justin was a standout basketball player for the Patriots, while Jackie did an amazing job behind the scenes at Terre Haute North. She was a volunteer, worked the concessions stands, organized fundraising events and was a team mom.

Justin but the  initials on his shoes to honor Jackie, who was battling pancreatic cancer. Just 12 hours after Gant honored Porter with the initials on his shoes, she passed away.

The Porter family said Jackie smiled the night of the ISU-Winthrop game when she found out what Justin did to honor her.