LR Hall lands 2 in game

Portis, Scaife earn McDonald’s invites

Hall High School's Bobby Portis and Tyler Scaife Thursday during a ceremony in which they were announced McDonald's All-Americans.
Hall High School's Bobby Portis and Tyler Scaife Thursday during a ceremony in which they were announced McDonald's All-Americans.

— Bobby Portis put in long, tough hours of training to earn a spot on the McDonald’s All-American Game roster.

Keeping it a secret that the Little Rock Hall senior was invited to play in the prestigious high school basketball game was no easy task either.

Portis received a call last month that he was invited to play in the 38th annual event, but he was asked to keep it to himself.

“I really wanted to tell somebody, but in the papers that they gave me, it said I couldn’t tell anybody until Feb. 14,” said Portis, a 6-9 senior post player who has signed with the University of Arkansas. “I was like, that’s a longtime not to tell anybody.”

The secret has been out on Portis and Lady Warriors guard Tyler Scaife for some time. Both of the Little Rock Hall seniors have been invited to participate in the McDonald’s games, which will be played April 4 at the United Center in Chicago.

“When you’ve been selected to play in the McDonald’s game, you’ve arrived,” said Jon Coleman, Hall’s boys coach. “Back when Bobby and Tyler were sophomores, we started talking about it. ... To see it come to fruition is just amazing.”

Arkansas has never produced more than one McDonald’s All American in any one year, and obviously it is the first time that an Arkansas school has had both a boy and a girl selected to play in the all-star games in the same year.

“It shows that all the hard work I’ve done has paid off,” said Scaife, a 5-8 guard who has signed with Rutgers. “I went on the court and took care of business and there were some people who saw that and selected me. It’s nice to be recognized for the honor. There’s not a lot of players who get invited to play in this game. It’s huge.”

Only seven Arkansas boys have been invited to play in the McDonald’s game and Portis is the first from the Little Rock School District.Sylvan Hills guard Archie Goodwin played in the 2012 McDonald’s game. Prior to that, the last Arkansan to play in the game was James Anderson of Junction City in 2007.

Scaife is the first Arkansas girl to play in the McDonald’s game since Morrilton’s Shekinna Stricklen in 2008.

Since she first started as a freshman for Little Rock Hall, Scaife has led the Lady Warriors to a combined four-year record of 82-26. Hall is currently unbeaten in the 7A/6ACentral Conference and is ranked No. 1 in the state.

“I used to dream of playing in the McDonald’s game but I didn’t always think it was possible because I didn’t know what went into it,” Scaife said. “I really was speechless when I learned I made the team. It’s crazy.”

“I think it’s cool that she made it too,” Portis said of Scaife. “Being from the same school, and both playing in the McDonald’s game, that’s just unheard of.”

Portis has been a member of state championship teams in all three years at Hall. This season, he is averaging 20.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists and 4.5 blocks per game.

“I think that’s just a reflection of the work that he’s put in,” Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. “When you look at what took place from his junior year to his senior year, he put in some tremendous work. He had a tremendous summer, whether it be in the camps, AAU ball, and now he’s one of the highly touted forwards in the country.”

Portis said he was thrilled when he received the call.

“This is a prestigious event,” Portis said. “There’s only 24 players who get to play in this game every year. It’s just a cool event to go to.” Staff writer Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contributed to this story.

Sports, Pages 19 on 02/15/2013

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