FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas forward Bobby Portis can add one more title to his standout sophomore season -- All-American.
Portis, the reigning Southeastern Conference player of the year, was named to the second team of The Associated Press' All-America team released Monday. Portis joins Kentucky posts Willie Cauley-Stein (first team) and Karl-Anthony Towns (second team) as the SEC's representatives among the three five-man teams.
Portis received 102 points and two first-place votes in the selection process. He led the Razorbacks (27-9) to their first NCAA Tournament victory in their first appearance since 2008, averaging 17.5 points on 54.7-percent floor shooting and 8.6 rebounds per game during the regular season.
Despite poor shooting during the NCAA tournament, Portis still recorded double-doubles in each game, a 56-53 victory over Wofford and 87-78 loss to North Carolina.
He was also key in the Hogs finishing runner-up in both the SEC regular season and tournament, finishing behind undefeated Kentucky in both instances.
The Little Rock Hall graduate becomes Arkansas' first AP All-American since guard Ronnie Brewer was a third-team selection in 2006. Center Corliss Williamson was named first team in both the 1994 national-championship season and '95 national runner-up year.
Forward Scotty Thurman, on the current coaching staff, was an honorable mention both of those years.
"Several All-American Teams out there. But none bigger than (The) Associated Press," Razorback assistant Matt Zimmerman tweeted. "Congrats Bobby Portis on being named a 2nd Team AP All-American."
Joining Portis and Towns on the second team are Utah's Delon Wright, Northern Iowa's Seth Tuttle and Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon. Besides Cauley-Stein, the first team has Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky, Duke's Jahlil Okafor, Notre Dame's Jerian Grant and Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell.
Portis and Michael Qualls, Arkansas' junior standout guard, have until April 16 to declare whether to enter the NBA draft. The basketball signing period begins April 15.
Sports on 03/31/2015