FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ashley Ginascol (312-729-3622)
CHICAGO (March 8, 2012) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced
Tyler Scaife of
Hall (Little Rock, Ark.) as its 2011-12 Gatorade Arkansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Scaife is the second Gatorade Arkansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Hall High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Scaife as Arkansas's best high school girls basketball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award announced in March, Scaife joins an elite alumni association of past state girls basketball award-winners, including Candace Parker (2003-04, 2002-03, & 2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Diana Taurasi (1998-99 & 1999-00, Don Antonio Lugo HS, Calif.), Maya Moore (2005-06 Collins Hill HS, Ga.), Rashanda McCants (2004-05, Asheville HS, N.C.), Shyra Ely (1999-00, Ben Davis HS, Ind.) and Lisa Leslie (1988-89, Morningside HS, Calif.).
The 5-foot-9 junior guard led the Warriors to a 23-6 record and the Class 7A state semifinals this past season. Scaife averaged 25.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.7 steals per game. A three-time All-State selection, she is rated as the nation's No. 10 recruit in the Class of 2013 by the Hoopgurlz ESPNU Super 60.
Scaife has maintained a B average in the classroom. She has volunteered locally on behalf of the Salvation Army and an area food bank.
"Tyler Scaife is the best female basketball player that I've ever coached against," said Dell Leonard, head coach at Mountain Home High. "She can hit the three, drive, change directions in mid-air. She handles the ball extremely well, sees the floor and she's a great passer."
Scaife will begin her senior year of high school this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPNHS and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Scaife joins recent Gatorade Arkansas Girls Basketball Players of the Year Calli Berna (2010-11, Fayetteville High School), Morgan Hook (2009-10 & 2008-09, Rogers), Shekinna Stricklen (2007-08, Morrilton), Whitney Zachariason (2006 – 07, Central Arkansas Christian), Clorice Kursh (2003-04, Fort Smith NortHigh Schoolide), and Danielle Allen (2002-03, Harrison) among the state's list of former award winners.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.
