Anderson waiting on word

Arkansas coach Mike Anderson answers questions during a press conference Friday, March 20, 2015, at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said he isn't stressing out about whether star players Bobby Portis and Michael Qualls will continue to be Razorbacks next season or enter the NBA Draft

Anderson said his No. 1 goal right now is to provide Portis and Qualls with as much information as possible about where they would be projected to be drafted if they decide to leave Arkansas.

"I look at it as part of the recruiting process," Anderson said Friday. "When I go in that home and sit there with those parents and talk about looking out for the best interests of their son, this is no different."

Anderson said it's up to Portis and Qualls and their families to determine if now is the best time for them to pursue a professional career.

Portis, a 6-11 forward from Little Rock and the SEC Player of the Year, will be a junior next season. Qualls, a 6-6 guard from Shreveport, will be a senior.

According to the NCAA website, the deadline for non-seniors to withdraw from the draft and retain their eligibility is April 12.

Whatever Portis and Qualls decide, Anderson said they'll always be part of the Razorbacks' family and that he wishes them the best.

"It's important for me, with the input I'm going to have, to provide them with all the information, all the resources that I have so they can make the right decision,"Anderson said. "How hard is it [waiting]? To me, it's not. To me, it's the right thing to do."

Anderson said he hasn't talked to Portis and Qualls about their futures, but he said he's looking forward to an opportunity to sit down with them and their families to discuss what they want to do after going over feedback from the NBA.

Portis, the SEC's player of the year who averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds, said after the Razorbacks' season-ending 87-78 loss to North Carolina last Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament that he was leaning toward returning to Arkansas.

"Bobby enjoys being a college student, and Mike does as well," Anderson said. "These guys grew together, they've got a strong bond.

"As they finished out the season, they have a bad taste in their mouths losing to a North Carolina team that we really felt like we were ready to play."

Qualls declined comment after the North Carolina game when asked if he plans to return to Arkansas, but he addressed the subject when talking to students at Shreveport Huntington High School, where he played, this week during spring break.

"I haven't really put any thought into it yet, " Qualls said Thursday according to television station KSLA. "I was just coming here to get a mental break this week.

"All that stuff is going to be there when I get back to school, and we'll be able to sit down and make decisions on my future."

Qualls said that after this semester he'll be 13 hours shy of graduating, KSLA reported. Being so close to finishing his degree might enter into his decision whether to stay in school or enter the draft.

"If you want options, those are the type of options you want," Qualls said according to KSLA.

"Mike's pretty smart," Anderson said. "Mike has done a good job in the classroom. Mike's done a good job on the floor. He understands the value of an education, but more importantly he also understands the progress he's made.

"He's far from the player he's going to be. I think there's a lot more room to grow."

Qualls averaged 15.9 points and 5.3 rebounds this season compared to 11.6 and 4.5 as a sophomore. In the final three games this season, he averaged 21.7 points, including 27 points against North Carolina, 20 against Wofford in the NCAA Tournament and 18 against Kentucky in the SEC Tournament final.

"It's all about finishing, and I thought he finished strong," Anderson said. "To me, that's the mark of a guy who's making some tremendous, tremendous improvement.

"There's still work to be done with him, and he knows that, but I was glad to see him have those big games. When you get on the big stage, that's when you want to shine, and I thought Mike did a good job of shining."

Arkansas signed guard Jimmy Whitt from Columbia (Mo.) Hickman High School in November and has a commitment from forward Ted Kapita from Huntington Prep in West Virginia to sign this spring.

Anderson said the coaching staff is recruiting while awaiting the decisions by Portis and Qualls.

"It's a balancing act," Anderson said. "You've just got to continue recruiting. We never stop.

"Right now those guys are here. That's my mind-set."

Sports on 03/28/2015