Star names McKee replacement

It’s not easy filling the shoes of a 26-year news veteran. But Kristen Leigh Porter is going to try. Officials for the Indianapolis Star recently announced that Porter has been named to replace outgoing Pat McKee as assistant sports editor/high school, effective July 7.

McKee, who was recently inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame for his high school hoops coverage, announced last month that he is leaving the newspaper this summer to move to Florida.

Porter has been a sportswriter at the Star since August, 2003, working out of the newspaper’s north bureau. In addition to covering high school sports, and coordinating prep coverage for Carmel, Westfield and Zionsville, she also had a stint as the backup Indiana Pacers beat writer and has covered the Fever on two separate occasions, including the current season. Porter came to The Star from the St. Petersburg Times.

There is no word on who will take over Porter’s duties as Fever beat writer. Fever officials have lobbied the Star for increased coverage of the women’s basketball team, and will likely lobby the Star for continued daily coverage of the team during its spring and summer season with at least one beat writer.