FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Two weeks after being named the SEC Player of the Year, Arkansas sophomore Bobby Portis was lauded by the Associated Press (AP) again on Monday by being named to the outlet’s All-America second team. The All-America distinction is the third of the year for Portis, while he is the program’s first AP All-American since 2006.
Named the SEC Player of the Year by the AP and the SEC head coaches, Portis has also earned a spot on the USBWA All-America second team and Sporting News All-America third team.
“Bobby is worthy of every award he receives. He’s one of the hardest working players I’ve ever been around and the best part about him is that all his goals are team oriented,” said Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson. “Since he arrived on campus his focus has been to become a great player and everyday he truly works at it with the best yet to come.”
Portis finished his sophomore campaign as the team leader in scoring (17.5), field goal percentage (.536), rebounding (8.9), offensive rebounds (133), blocks (50) and steals (39). Along the way to leading the Razorbacks in nearly every statistical category, Portis also became the first player in the storied program’s history to accumulate 600 points and 300 rebounds.
The Little Rock native is a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, Lute Olson Award and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
Arkansas finished its fourth season under coach Anderson with a 27-9 record, good for the sixth-most wins in the program’s 92-year history. The Razorbacks earned an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2008, advancing to the third round as the No. 5 seed in the West Region. Part of Arkansas’ 27 wins was a 13-5 record in the SEC which marked the most SEC wins since the 1993-94 national championship team.
IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF
Over his two seasons as a Razorback, Portis has put his name in the conversation with some of Arkansas’ elite players in program history. Portis is the first player in program history with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds as a sophomore. During Arkansas’ NCAA Tournament second round win over Wofford, Portis surpassed 600 points and 300 rebounds on the year, becoming the first player in program history to accomplish the feat.
BP MODE
Currently in the top 5 of the SEC in scoring (17.5/2nd), rebounding (8.9/4th), offensive rebounds (3.7/1st), defensive rebounds (5.2/5th) and field goal percentage (.536/2nd), Portis continued to etch his name in the Arkansas record books in 2014-15.
· Second Razorback to be named SEC Player of the Year.
· Just the third sophomore to reach the 1,000-point plateau, joining TODD DAY (1990) and SCOTTY THURMAN (1994).
· First player in program history with five straight double-doubles in SEC regular season action.
· Program record nine double-doubles in SEC play.
· First player in program history with 30 points and 10 rebounds in an SEC game against Vanderbilt with 32 points and 11 boards.
· First player in program history to go for 18+ points and 7+ rebounds in six straight games since CORLISS WILLIAMSON did during his sophomore season in 1994.
· Just the fifth player to record multiple 30-point games in his career against SEC opponents, joining TODD DAY (4), JANNERO PARGO (3), SCOTTY THURMAN (3) and JONATHON MODICA (2).
· Had a 27-game double figure scoring streak that surpassed Todd Day’s 25-game streak from the end of 1990-91 into 1991-92.
DEMANDING THE ROCK
The only sophomore on the Wooden Award Final 15 list, Portis became the focal point of Arkansas’ offense and the team leader on and off the court. With 70 straight starts to open his career, Portis has been dominant his last 40 games that includes the final four of his freshman year.
Category Last 40 First 30
Points Per Game 16.9 (679) 12.7 (368)
Double Figures 38 19
18+ Points 20 4
20+ Points 13 1
Team Leader in Scoring 19 7
Rebounds Per Game 8.8 (352) 6.9 (199)
7+ Rebounds 30 17
Double Figure Rebounds 17 3
Double-Doubles 16 3
Team Leader in Rebounds 30 13
Double Figure FG Attempts 36 9
THREE OF A KIND
Portis is one of just three high-major players in the country that averaged or is averaging at least 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Name Program Points Rebounds
Bobby Portis Arkansas 17.5 8.9
Rakeem Christmas Syracuse 17.5 9.1
Jahlil Okafor Duke 17.5 8.7
SEC CHECKLIST
Taking on a league full of future NBA first round draft picks and some of the best big men in the country, Portis posted a double-double or 20-point game against 12 of the 13 SEC members in the regular season. Below is Portis’ checklist against SEC foes. Kentucky is the only opponent Portis didn’t do either, as he finished the Feb. 28 meeting in Lexington with 15 points and eight rebounds. Over his 36-game SEC career, Portis has a 20-point game or double-double against every league opponent.
IN-SEASON | POSTSEASON AWARDS
>>> Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Finalist (5 Players)
>>> Oscar Robertson Trophy Finalist (14 Players)
>>> Lute Olson Award Finalist (21 Players)
>>> Associated Press SEC Player of the Year
>>> SEC Player of the Year (Coaches)
>>> USBWA All-District VII Player of the Year
>>> Scout.com SEC Player of the Year
>>> Associated Press All-America Second Team
>>> USBWA All-America Second Team
>>> Sporting News All-America Third Team
>>> Associated Press All-SEC First Team (Unanimous)
>>> All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
>>> USBWA All-District VII Team
>>> NABC All-District 21 First Team
>>> Scout.com All-SEC First Team
>>> Wooden Award Final 15
>>> Naismith Trophy Midseason Top 30
>>> CBS Sports National Player of the Week (Jan. 12)
>>> SEC Player of the Week (Jan. 12 & Feb. 16)
>>> NCAA.com Player of the Week (Feb. 9)
>>> Naismith Trophy Player of the Week (Feb. 10)
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