Bobby Portis to skip 2015 NBA Draft, return to Arkansas?

By Cameron La Fontaine | Mar 23, 2015

Feb 18, 2015; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Bobby Portis (10) drives to the basket as Missouri Tigers guard Keith Shamburger (14) attempts to defend during a game at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas defeated Missouri 84-69. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports /

Sophomore forward Bobby Portis may skip the 2015 NBA Draft and continue his collegiate career at Arkansas.

Bobby Portis has become a household name in college basketball this season after the sophomore 6’11 Arkansas center was a star for the Razorbacks, averaging 17.5 points per game and adding 9 rebounds. While Portis is considered a lottery pick in most mock drafts, he may forgo the 2015 NBA Draft and continue his career at Arkansas.

More from NBA Draft

Arkansas found themselves as a 5-seed in the West Region of the 2015 NCAA Tournament after a 26-8 season. After a tough win against Wofford in the first round, Arkansas took on North Carolina, the 4-seed, in the third round but fell 87-78. Portis finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and five steals.

Portis was asked about his career plan after the game and according to Arkansas Online, the young center is thinking about coming back instead of heading to the NBA Draft.

“I’m leaning toward coming back just because we lost, and I hate losing,” Portis said. “I don’t want to end my Razorback career as a loser. I don’t even want to take this jersey off right now. I have to wait a whole 200 days just to put it back on. That hurts me. I love the Arkansas Razorbacks. I want to be a Hog forever.”

Bobby Portis said that he needs to talk to his mother, his coach Mike Anderson and his former AAU coach, 2-time NBA sixth man of the year and Arkansas All-American Corliss Williamson before any decisions can be made according to AO.

Portis says that Williamson is his mentor and said he considers him to be a father figure. Williamson was a two-time SEC Player of the Year in 1994 and 1995 and Bobby Portis was the first Razorback to win the award since Williamson when he won it this season.

Williamson left Arkansas after his junior season and was a first-round NBA Draft pick (13th overall) by the Sacramento Kings. He played 12 seasons with the NBA and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. Arkansas honored Williamson this season by unveiling a banner with his No. 34 jersey.

“I want to be the greatest Razorback of all time,” Portis said. “I want to beat out my mentor. Corliss Williamson is an Arkansas son, and I want that to be me when I come back 20 years from now. I want people to say, ‘Bobby Portis, a son of Arkansas.’ “

Arkansas junior guard Michael Qualls is another player from the team that could declare for the draft. He’s not listed on many NBA Mock Drafts, but his late season performances will undoubtedly raise his stock. Qualls averaged 15 points and five rebounds per game this season and in the loss to North Carolina he had 27 points and 10 rebounds.

Expect Qualls and Portis to consult each other on their future ambitions. The players need to decide if they want to declare for the 2015 NBA Draft by April 12. If Portis and Qualls both return to Arkansas next season, look for the Razorbacks to be a legitimate title contender.

More from FanSided