Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Mr. Basketball
As Portis sprouted up, so did his game
Inspired by his mother, Bobby Portis stuck with the sport he loved and became one of the most highly regarded players to come out of Arkansas. Portis, a 6-9 center and a University of Arkansas signee, averaged 20.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game to help Little Rock Hall to its fourth consecutive state championship.
Bobby Portis, Little Rock Hall
Bobby Portis has proven to be one of the most highly regarded high school basketball players from Arkansas in recent memory, but he was ready to give up on the game five years ago.
Fortunately for the Little Rock Hall basketball program, Portis’ mother stepped in to save the day.
“I had a [bad] attitude,” Portis said. “I wasn’t very good, and I was frustrated with a lot of things. I was ready to quit, but my mom told me that if I really loved something then I shouldn’t give up on it. ”
Tina Edwards’ encouragement spurred her son to great feats on and off the court.
Portis, a 6-9 senior center, was a part of four state championship teams at Hall. He signed a national letter of intent with the University of Arkansas, averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game his senior season and has been selected as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Mr. Basketball for 2013.
“One thing a lot of people don’t realize about Bobby is that he is an even better person than he is a player,” Hall Coach Jon Coleman said. “I’m just impressed with how down-to-earth and humble Bobby is. He’s been here four years, and he’s always been so respectful of everybody. He’s the same in the gym as he is in the classroom.
Earning the nickname “Big-shot Bob,” Portis had a penchant for not only igniting the crowd with thunderous dunks but by hitting deep three-pointers when the Warriors needed them the most. Portis always seemed to be at his best when he was placed against the toughest competition.
Hall finished 26- 5 and eventually won the Class 6A state title, but the Warriors struggled early in the season, losing home games to Memphis White Station and North Little Rock.
Coleman said the leadership Portis showed during those early struggles pushed the Warriors out of their doldrums.
“I think Bobby approached that part of the season like he did any other time,” Coleman said. “He’s been so used to being successful that there was not any doubt in his mind that we were going to have a successful year.”
That wasn’t the case when Portis was a 5-9 eighth-grader at Horace Mann Middle School.
“I haven’t really had that much in my life,” Portis said. “My mom is a hard worker, and that’s motivated me to give back to her. … Because of her, I stuck with basketball and I got better and better.”
Portis dressed out for only three varsity games as a freshman, but Coleman said he could tell Portis was going to be a major contributor in the next few years.
“He made his biggest improvement from his freshman and sophomore years,” Coleman said. “He has always been a hard worker, but I think he just made up his mind he was going to be a great player and he started working toward that goal. … One reason he got better was because he grew, but he also began hitting the weight room and he got stronger. Then, he developed some moves to get better in the post. Since then, he’s worked hard to perfect his game.”
Portis said he is ready to make a contribution to Razorbacks’ basketball team this fall.
“I grew up watching the Razorbacks when they had Ronnie Brewer and Sonny Weems,” Portis said. “I was like, ‘Wow, I like the way they play.’ And I really liked their [pep] band and their cheers. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”