Kopps finalist for Sullivan Award

Former University of Arkansas pitcher Kevin Kopps is one of five finalists for the AAU Sullivan Award, which is presented annually to the best amateur athlete in the U.S.

Other finalists for this year’s award include gymnast Simone Biles, water polo player Maddie Musselman, swimmer Caleb Dressel and middle-distance runner Athing Mu.

Kopps is the only finalist for the award who did not compete in this year’s Tokyo Olympics. Dressel won gold medals in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly and as a member of the 400-meter freestyle and 400-meter medley teams; Mu won gold in the 800 meters and as part of the 1,600-meter relay team; Musselman (a niece of Arkansas men’s basketball Coach Eric Musselman) was a member of the U.S. gold medal team; and Biles won bronze on the balance beam.

Kopps won the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy — the top individual awards in college baseball. He also won the Stopper of the Year Award as the game’s best relief pitcher. He went 12-1 with a 0.90 ERA and 11 saves.

The Sullivan Award will be presented Friday in Orlando, Fla.