No clues given at banquet

Portis, Qualls mum as deadline nears

Arkansas freshman forward Bobby Portis, left, shares a laugh with sophomore guard Michael Qualls during the second half of play against Northeastern State Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Arkansas freshman forward Bobby Portis, left, shares a laugh with sophomore guard Michael Qualls during the second half of play against Northeastern State Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Bobby Portis and Michael Qualls received their NCAA Tournament watches during the Arkansas basketball team's banquet Monday night, but they are still on the clock regarding the NBA Draft.

Portis and Qualls spoke briefly to the crowd of about 500 on the floor of Bud Walton Arena, offering thanks after winning their awards, but neither said anything about whether he will enter the draft or return to Arkansas next season.

The NBA's deadline for early draft entries is April 26, so Portis and Qualls have less than two weeks to make a decision. If they enter the draft they won't be eligible to return to Arkansas because the NCAA's deadline for withdrawing from the draft was Sunday.

Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said after the banquet he's gathered information for Portis and Qualls about how NBA teams view them as draft prospects and that he plans to have detailed discussions with them this week.

"Then hopefully we'll know what they want to do," Anderson said.

Anderson said Portis and Qualls are going through off-season workouts with the Razorbacks.

"Until I hear something different, they're with us right now," Anderson said. "They're into this team and into the moment.

"I think they're trying to put it off as much as they can until that time comes."

Portis and Qualls signed autographs for fans and posed for pictures after the banquet, but didn't do interviews with the media.

Sophomore guard Manny Watkins said the other players don't know what Portis and Qualls will do.

"They haven't made anything clear to any of us," Watkins said. "They're really torn because they love the Razorbacks, but then they have families that really need them to help provide stuff.

"I know they love it here. They love college. They love playing for the Razorbacks. I guess we'll know soon."

Watkins and Portis are roommates.

"I ask him every day, and one day it's this and the other day it's that," Watkins said. "I don't think he has his mind made up yet.

"Whatever he does, that's my brother and I'm going to support him. I'd love to have him back here, but if he has to make that step, he can do that. Whatever he does I'm going to support him 100 percent. Whatever makes him happy."

Portis, a 6-11 sophomore forward from Little Rock Hall, was the SEC Player of the Year and an Associated Press second-team All-American who averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds this season.

Qualls, a 6-6 junior guard from Shreveport, averaged 15.9 points and 5.3 rebounds. He was a second-team All-SEC pick.

Senior Alandise Harris, a 6-6 forward from Little Rock, didn't attend the banquet because he is in the Dallas area training for a shot to play in the NFL, Anderson said.

"He was our most physical player," Anderson said. "If he has some good hands, he might make a good tight end for somebody."

Sports on 04/14/2015

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