Gonzaga commit Chet Holmgren named the National Boys Gatorade Player of the Year.
Chet Holmgren added more accolades and awards with the Minnehaha Academy standout being named the National Boys Gatorade Player of the Year on Wednesday.
The 7-foot-1 center will be playing his college basketball at Gonzaga after a standout high school career that saw him lead the Redhawks to the AAA state championship this season after Holmgren averaged 20.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.7 blocks and 4.4 assists while making 68.2 percent of his shots.
Holmgren was surprised by former high school teammate, Jalen Suggs, who alerted him to the news of his win.
His accomplishments on the court represent half of the reasons behind Holmgren’s selection as the Gatorade Player of the Year.
Chet Holmgren wins National Boys Gatorade Player of the Year Award
Holmgren’s work in the classroom and the community represents the other half. Holmgren had a 3.46 GPA, is a member of his school’s Leadership Institute, worked with local schools as a tutor and classroom assistant as part of Minnehaha Academy’s Cultural Field Experience and volunteered for the Frog Town Boys and Girls Club and as a youth basketball instructor.
“We are recognizing Chet as the best high school boys basketball player in the nation because of his dedication to performing on the court, in the classroom and in the community,” said Gatorade Senior Vice President and General Manager Brett O’Brien in a press release. “We take pride in looking at the whole athlete, not just the stats, and Chet is a role model for all of us.”
The Gatorade Player of the Year has been awarded since the 1985-1986 season when J.R. Reid was the first to win the honor. Since then, notable players such as Alonzo Mourning, Chris Webber, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bradley Beal, Ben Simmons and Jayson Tatum.
Holmgren’s incredible set of skills is why he was the nation’s No. 1 recruit and expected to make an immediate impact for a Gonzaga team coming off a loss in the national championship game and could be the favorites to win it all in 2021-2022. After Gonzaga, Holmgren is the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
“Chet Holmgren was the greatest mismatch in the high school game this past season because of his outside shooting, inside game and physical measurables,” ESPN National Recruiting Director Paul Biancardi said in a press release. “At 7-foot-1 and owning an enormous wingspan, he’s a world-class shot blocker. He displays uncommon versatility with his scoring ability, ball-handling, court mobility and footwork. He’s a tremendous teammate and a young man who is humble and respectful, while still playing with an edge. His time at Gonzaga should put him in contention to be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.”
To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Gatorade.
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