Portis sticks, signs with Hogs

LITTLE ROCK — On Friday afternoon, Arkansas men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson added his second highly rated big man to the 2013 class when Little Rock Hall power forward Bobby Portis signed a national letter of intent with the Hogs during a ceremony at the Hall gymnasium.

Portis, 6-9 1/2, 220 pounds, orally committed to the Hogs in August before the start of his junior year. He chose the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Florida, Baylor and Nebraska. He also drew interest from Kansas, Texas, Minnesota and others.

“Back in the 10th grade, I committed and I had a bunch of people telling me to go to this school or that school,” Portis said. “But I stayed with it because it’s kind of big to be a Razorback in your own state because of the fan support and the family atmosphere. It is all pretty cool.”

He’s rated the No. 13 prospect in the nation by Van Coleman, the national director of basketball for XOFan.com who also runs the Hot100hoops. com scouting service.

Moses Kingsley, a 6-10 center from Huntington (W.Va.) Prep who is the nation’s No. 52 prospect according to Coleman, signed with Arkansas on Thursday.

Portis and Kingsley played together on the Arkansas Wings the past two years and won the AAU national championship over the summer. Portis said he and Kingsley complement each other well.

“Moses and I had two years of summer ball together,” Portis said. “He’s like my best friend.”

Portis was a first-team All-Arkansas selection by the

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

last season after averaging about 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 block shots per game while leading Little Hall to a second consecutive Class 7A state title.

Hall Coach Jon Coleman said he believes Portis’ signing with Arkansas is huge for the program.

“Bobby is a very versatile athlete and versatile basketball player,” Coleman said. “He’ll be able to play with his back to the bucket. He’ll be able to step out and shoot the basketball like some of the athletes did when Coach [Nolan] Richardson was there. He’ll be able to score and get in front of the press and cause a lot of pressure.”