Dennis Smith Jr. is thinking about changing his number if not adding a line to deal with the “craziness” that comes with recruitment. (Photos by Kelly Kline/Adidas)

Before June 15, Michael Porter Jr. was never mistaken for being “that” guy who never returned calls or texts from friends.

No, before that day, Porter was a prompt responder who prided himself in his ability to nurture, not neglect, his close relationships.

Porter hasn’t changed. It’s just that he now has an unreal number of college coaches and media members hitting him up, wanting everything from interviews to the highly coveted verbal commitment.

Such is the life of the No. 2 overall player in the ESPN 60.

“It’s been rough ever since June 15,” said Porter of the date the NCAA allows college coaches to make unlimited calls and texts to rising junior basketball players. “Your friends end up getting on you for not getting back to them and after a while it kinda weighs on you.”

The remedy?

Adding a new phone line exclusively for coaches and media — an idea that a handful of elite rising senior and junior hoops stars have either done or are at least strongly considering.

“I just feel like it’s the smartest thing for me,” said Porter, a rising junior forward with Mokan Elite (Kan.). “It gets to be a lot at times. You’ve got a bunch of texts and calls from coaches and you don’t want to not respond, but then you forget that your friend texted or called you and it gets hard to manage. I know some guys in the classes before me that did this and they said it made it a lot easier to navigate.”

But it costs.

Generally, it’ll run you an extra $10 a month to add a new line with a $35 activation fee attached.

Houston Hoops point guard De’Aaron Fox thinks that’s money well spent. He said he’d “definitely” add an extra cell phone if his parents would foot the bill.

“Sometimes when I’m out with my friends I don’t really want coaches to call me,” said Fox, who is ranked No. 10 in the ESPN 100. “I think another phone would be a big help with that. My parents just won’t pay for it. I understand because after I commit then I’ll just have another phone for no reason. I think it’s smart though. I miss a lot of calls! A lot, just dealing with getting back to coaches and all that.”

MWA Elite (Texas) forward Billy Preston said he is in talks with his mother about getting an extra line because, among other things, constantly keeping in touch with dozens of coaches takes its toll on your battery over the course of the day.

“Battery life is everything at our age,” said Preston, who is ranked No. 20 in the ESPN 60. “These coaches will make your battery go fast. It’s not a knock to the coaches, but I don’t want my basketball stuff to come in between my social life.

“I want to have the same interactions with my friends. I don’t want to miss a text from my friend because I had 40 texts from coaches that day. I just think it’s smarter to have a phone for basketball stuff and a phone strictly for personal use.”

Still, not every elite prospect feels the need to have phones bulging out of both pockets.

Atlanta Celtics point guard Kobi Jordan-Simmons said that he’s able to manage texts and calls from coaches, media, friends and family “pretty well” with one line.

“I don’t let it interfere with me keeping in touch with my family and friends,” said Jordan-Simmons, who is ranked No. 2 among point guards in the ESPN 100. “Right now, I’m not worried about having a separate phone; maybe that’ll be more necessary as I continue to play at the next level and, hopefully, past that.”

Team Loaded (N.C.) point guard Dennis Smith Jr. sees a separate line as a necessity for a much different reason.

“Fans have gotten my number about 10 times and they keep calling me and saying crazy stuff,” said Smith, who is ranked No. 1 among point guards in the ESPN 100. “I don’t like that so I’ve definitely thought about at least changing my number if not adding another line. The coaches and media can be a lot to deal with, but it comes with the territory at this point.

“But if we can do something to make it easier on ourselves I say why not.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY