Roni Lloyd-Portis

Year Inducted: 2024

Roni Lloyd-Portis’ love for sports blossomed during her upbringing in a family of five girls. While baseball initially captured her heart, basketball soon became her true passion. Her basketball journey began in fourth grade when she joined the girls’ basketball team at Roosevelt Elementary School. As the sole girl on the team, she played for Cleveland Elementary School, igniting her genuine love for the game.

Roni’s natural talent for scoring emerged, and her skills flourished during her 7^th and 8^th grade years at Washington Intermediate School, under the guidance of Coach Sherri Reynolds. Her high school years at Port Huron High School were pivotal. As a freshman, Roni started on the girls’ varsity basketball team. Despite sports cancellations during her sophomore year, Roni’s junior year marked a turning point. Legendary Coach George Popa led the team, emphasizing intensity, basketball IQ, and a winning mindset. Roni excelled, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals. She set a then-school record with 33 points in multiple games. Roni was named team MVP, achieved an impressive scoring average of 22 points per game, and earned recognition as a First Team All-League, All-Area player, and Class A All-First Team Detroit Free Press and Detroit News.

Roni’s basketball journey continued at Northwood University, where she secured an athletic scholarship and was a key player. As a four-year starter from 1983 to 1987, she joined the 1000 Point Club, ranked 14th all-time in points, and was named First Team All GLIAC and Team MVP. In her senior year, she led the team with a scoring average of 15.8 points per game.

Beyond athletics, Roni pursued education. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University in 1987, followed by Teacher Certification from Saginaw Valley State University in 2005. Later, she obtained a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Concordia University in 2009. Roni’s professional journey included roles as a project coordinator and educator, earning community accolades along the way.