Porter's time well-spent.

Byline: Adam Jude The Register-Guard

Tajuan Porter has seen many new things in the past week while playing for the U.S. National Team at the FIBA U19 World Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia.

The one thing he'd like to see more of? Playing time.

While the Oregon point guard says he appreciates what being part of Team USA has brought him - a sense of national pride and the understanding of a new culture in Serbia - he couldn't help but reveal his frustration over his inconsistent appearances on the basketball court.

"It's a great experience and I'm having a lot of fun," Porter said in a telephone interview. "I'm not getting as much playing time as I feel I should be getting. The coach has his favorites. But it's great to get some international experience. I can take that back to my (Oregon) team and teach my teammates."

After going 6-0 in the first two rounds of the tournament, the U.S. team opens the quarterfinals today against Argentina (3-3). Porter, a 5-foot-6, 150-pound native of Detroit, has started two games, averaging 8.5 points in 17.0 minutes per game. He is shooting 35.5 percent (11-for-31), hitting 8-of-19 three-point attempts.

"I'd like to be playing and helping the team more, but that's OK," he said. "This whole situation is making me stronger."

For Oregon last season, Porter set the Pac-10 freshman and school single-season records for most three-pointers made with 110.

After being selected for the U.S. team on June 30, he scored a team-high 20 points in an exhibition game against China's senior national team on July 1. He had his best game of the World Championships in a 118-56 first-round victory over Mali in which he scored 14 points. He was also praised by U.S. coach Jerry Wainwright for his defensive efforts in a win over Lithuania on Monday.

Porter's appearance in Serbia continues an eventful week for the Oregon basketball program. On Monday, two top-tier recruits from Chicago - Michael Dunigan and Matt Humphrey - announced their intention to sign with the Ducks. On Tuesday, senior Maarty Leunen was one of 12 players selected to represent the U.S. at the Pan American Games later this month in Rio de Janeiro (Bryce Taylor was one of the final cuts), while former Duck Aaron Brooks, a first-round draft pick by the Houston Rockets, was named the top rookie at the NBA's Summer League in Las Vegas.

"I talked to Maarty the other day, and he's doing real good," Porter said. "All this (international experience) is only going to strengthen our games."

Off the court, Porter has witnessed some of the devastating effects of the violence that tore apart the region in the 1990s. The team toured Novi Sad to see some of lasting impressions of the destruction firsthand. (A slideshow of the team's tour is available at usabasketball.com.)

"Overall, it's a great experience to get the chance to see a different part of the world and see how other cultures live," he said. "We took a tour of the city and saw the TV and radio station that (NATO) bombed in '99. It's really opened up my mind to be appreciative of what I have at home. Some of these people are really struggling."

That, he said, helps put some of his on-court struggles in perspective. It also enhanced his desire to return home and continue to work on his game.

After the conclusion of the World Championships this weekend, Porter said he is scheduled to return Eugene for a short period before going home to Detroit for a couple of weeks. He'll then come back to Eugene in August to begin workouts with Oregon teammates.

"I want to win this gold medal and get home, get stronger and get ready for next season at Oregon," he said.