Monday, March 9, 2015

Portis Named Sporting News Third Team All-American


FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Just two days removed from being named to the Wooden Award Final 15 and closing the regular season with his program record ninth double-double in SEC play, Arkansas sophomore Bobby Portis was named a Sporting News Third Team All-American on Monday.

Portis is the first Razorback since Ronnie Brewer in 2006 to earn All-American status. Brewer was a third team All-American by Basketball Times and honorable mention choice by the Associated Press.

Named one of five finalists for the new Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame earlier in the day, Portis enters SEC postseason play in the top five in the league in scoring (17.8/2nd), 20-point games (12/2nd), field goal percentage (.563/1st), rebounding (8.7/4th), offensive rebounds (3.6/2nd) and double-doubles (11/4th).



Portis’ second string of back-to-back 20-point games last week in SEC play helped him finish as the league-leader in scoring at 18.6 points in conference-only contests. The double-double against LSU also brought his league-leading total to nine in SEC play, extending his already-established program record. Portis reached double figures in all 18 SEC games and is currently riding a 26-game streak.

One of three high-major players averaging 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds, Portis closed the regular season with 21 points, a career-best 15 rebounds, four assists and two blocks against LSU. It marked the first time since 1998 that a Razorback has posted 20 & 15 in a game, while his career-high 15 rebounds included 10 on the offensive end. Earlier in the year, Portis became the first Arkansas player with 30 & 10 in an SEC game against Vanderbilt.

Sporting News All-Americans
First Team
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

Jahlil Okafor, Duke
D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
Delon Wright, Utah

Second Team
Melo Trimble, Maryland
Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa
Quinn Cook, Duke
Darrun Hilliard, Villanova
Jerian Grant, Notre Dame

 Third Team
Bobby Portis, Arkansas
Karl Anthony Towns, Kentucky
Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga
Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse
Joe Young, Oregon

As the No. 2 seed in next week’s SEC Tournament, No. 18 Arkansas (24-7, 13-5) will have a bye into Friday night’s quarterfinals where it will play the winner of Thursday’s matchup between the No. 7 seed Vanderbilt and No. 10 seed Tennessee. Friday’s quarterfinal game will tip at 6 p.m. CT and can be seen on the SEC Network.

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