Muncie Central coach Lisa Blalock expected her star forward to make the Indiana Junior All-Stars. For Jayla Scaife, making the squad wasn’t exactly on her radar.
That’s because she wasn’t aware that being selected meant the opportunity to actually play against the state’s best players.
Scaife was named to the 18-member squad Tuesday, and she quickly found out what a prestigious honor it is to be included.
“It was just surprising,” Scaife said. “I wasn’t completely sure what they were talking about. I just thought I was getting my name in a book or a newspaper. Then I figured out what it was, and I was really excited.
“A coach told me about it a while ago, but I didn’t know what it was. With school and everything going on, I just kind of forgot about it.”
The players are divided into three groups: North, South and core. The core group plays with the North squad on either June 8 or 10, and then the core group will play with the South on the other day at a location to be announced later. Scaife is on the north.
Based off the season Scaife put together — averages of 21.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.8 steals and 2.5 blocks — in leading the Bearcats to a 19-6 record, Blalock thought this type of recognition would be on the horizon.
“I was expecting it because I thought all along she deserved it. She’s among the elite players in the state,” Blalock said. “Just the fact that she made team, it shows the respect she’s earned throughout the state.”
The 5-foot-11 Scaife is already committed to Dayton, so impressing college coaches and recruiting analysts isn’t something she is concerned about. She is, however, excited about the chance to test herself against some of the other top players in the state.
“It’s definitely going to be a learning experience just to play against the top seniors,” she said. “They know more than what we probably know as juniors. It’ll be fun to play against them, learn what they do and don’t do.”
The Junior All-Stars won’t play the Kentucky Junior All-Stars, as they have in years past.
Scaife’s teammates on the North are Camryn Buhr (Penn), Cameron Onken (Lafayette Central Catholic), Aliyah Walker (Brownsburg), Katelyn O’Reilly (Noblesville) and Alexis Shannon (Noblesville).
“It’s just an honor,” Scaife said. “I definitely have to give all the glory to God for everything he blessed me with. It’s just really exciting to be thought of as one of the top players in state.”
Contact high school sports features reporter Ryan O’Gara at (765) 213-5829. Follow him on Twitter @RyanOGaraTSP.
2015 Indiana Junior All-Stars
Core
•Lindsey Corsaro, Roncalli
•Ae’Rianna Harris, Lawrence North
•Tyasha Harris, Heritage Christian
•Sydney Shelton, Mt. Vernon (Fortville)
•Kristen Spolyar, Lebanon
•Jackie Young, Princeton
North
•Camryn Buhr, Penn
•Cameron Onken, Lafayette Central Catholic
•Jayla Scaife, Central
•Aliyah Walker, Brownsburg
•Katelyn O’Reilly, Noblesville
•Alexis Shannon, Noblesville
South
•Kara Gerka, Fishers
•Holly Hoopingarner, Greenwood
•Lauren McBryar, Mooresville
•Tyana Robinson, Pike
•Emily Sullivan, Evansville Memorial
•Megan Walton, Hamilton Southeastern