Gatorade established an award honoring America's elite high school student-athletes in 1985 and now recognizes standouts in football (boys), volleyball (girls), boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, baseball (boys), softball (girls), and boys and girls track & field. State players of the year are selected for their outstanding athletic performance, academic achievement and exemplary personal character.
The following athletes went on to be recognized as national players of the year:
- Kenny Anderson, basketball, 1989
- Felipe Lopez, basketball, 1994
- Stephon Marbury, basketball, 1995
- Greg Paulus, football, 2004; also selected as overall national athlete of the year.
- Ousseni Bouda, soccer, 2017
For more information, visit the
Gatorade site.
| | BASEBALL | | |
| 1985-86 | Clifford Brantley | Port Richmond | Pitcher |
| 1986-87 | David Allen | Greece Athena | Pitcher |
| 1987-88 | Len Brutcher | Cicero-North Syracuse | Pitcher/DH |
| 1988-89 | Doug Hecker | MacArthur | Pitcher/infielder |
| 1989-90 | Steve Karsay | Christ the King | Pitcher |
| 1990-91 | Manny Ramirez | George Washington | Centerfielder/3rd base |
| 1991-92 | Dave Post | Kingston | Shortstop |
| 1992-93 | James Wallace | Kellenberg Memorial | Pitcher/1st base |
| 1993-94 | Tim Spindler | Washingtonville | Pitcher |
| 1994-95 | Ron Marietta | Brooklyn Bishop Ford | Pitcher |
| 1995-96 | Dermal Brown | Marlboro | Outfielder |
| 1996-97 | Vincente Rosario | George Washington | Outfielder |
| 1997-98 | Rick Riccobono | Commack | Pitcher |
| 1998-99 | Ruddy Lugo | Xaverian | Pitcher/shortstop |
| 1999-00 | Ron Braun | St. John the Baptist | Catcher/outfielder |
| 2000-01 | Tim Layden | Deer Park | Pitcher/1st base |
| 2001-02 | John DeFendis | Xaverian | Outfielder |
| 2002-03 | Estee Harris | Central Islip | Outfielder |
| 2003-04 | Pat McAnaney | Westhill | Pitcher/1st base/outfielder |
| 2004-05 | Pedro Alvarez | Horace Mann | 3rd base/shortstop |
| 2005-06 | Dellin Betances | Grand Street Campus | Pitcher/1st base |
| 2006-07 | Brian Dupra | Greece Athena | Pitcher |
| 2007-08 | Philip Pohl | Cooperstown | Catcher/outfielder |
| 2008-09 | Marcus Stroman | Patchogue-Medford | Pitcher/shortstop |
| 2009-10 | Jonathan de Marte | Lakeland | Pitcher |
| 2010-11 | Jonathan de Marte | Lakeland | Pitcher |
| 2011-12 | Alex Robinson | Holy Trinity | Pitcher |
| 2012-13 | Mark Armstrong | Clarence | Pitcher |
| 2013-14 | Scott Blewett | Baldwinsville | Pitcher |
| 2014-15 | Garrett Whitley | Niskayuna | Outfielder |
| 2015-16 | Daniel Bakst | Poly Prep | Shortstop/3rd base |
| 2016-17 | Quentin Holmes | Monsignor McClancy | Outfielder |
| 2017-18 | Charlie Mack | Williamsville East | Shortstop |
| 2018-19 | Joe Vetrano | Lakeland | Pitcher |
| 2019-20 | Jason Savacool | Baldwinsville | Pitcher/corner infielder |
| 2020-21 | Casey Saucke | Greece Athena | Shortstop |
| 2021-22 | Mike Kennedy | Troy | Pitcher/First baseman |
| 2022-23 | Samuel Stafura | Walter Panas | Shortstop |
| 2023-24 | Owen Paino | Roy C. Ketcham | Shortstop |
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| | BASKETBALL | | |
| 1985-86 | Keith Robinson | Buffalo Grover Cleveland | Forward |
| 1986-87 | King Rice | Binghamton | Guard |
| 1987-88 | Christian Laettner | Buffalo Nichols | Center |
| 1988-89 | Kenny Anderson | Archbishop Molloy | Guard |
| 1989-90 | Khalid Reeves | Christ the King | Guard |
| 1990-91 | Andre Riddick | Bishop Loughlin | Center/forward |
| 1991-92 | John Wallace | Greece Athena | Forward/center |
| 1992-93 | Felipe Lopez | Rice | Guard |
| 1993-94 | Felipe Lopez | Rice | Forward |
| 1994-95 | Stephon Marbury | Abraham Lincoln | Guard |
| 1995-96 | Lamar Odom | Christ the King | Center |
| 1996-97 | Elton Brand | Peekskill | Forward/center |
| 1997-98 | Anthony Glover | Rice | Forward |
| 1998-99 | Kenny Satterfield | Rice | Guard |
| 1999-00 | Omar Cook | Christ the King | Guard |
| 2000-01 | Julius Hodge | St. Raymond | Guard |
| 2001-02 | Jason Fraser | Amityville | Forward |
| 2002-03 | Chris Taft | Xaverian | Center |
| 2003-04 | Sebastian Telfair | Abraham Lincoln | Guard |
| 2004-05 | Greg Paulus | Syracuse CBA | Guard |
| 2005-06 | Jonathan Mitchell | Mount Vernon | Forward |
| 2006-07 | Jonny Flynn | Niagara Falls | Guard |
| 2007-08 | Sylven Landesberg | Holy Cross | Guard |
| 2008-09 | Brandon Triche | Jamesville-DeWitt | Guard |
| 2009-10 | Tobias Harris | Half Hollow Hills West | Forward |
| 2010-11 | Achraf Yacoubou | Long Island Lutheran | Guard |
| 2011-12 | Omar Calhoun | Christ the King | Guard |
| 2012-13 | Kentan Facey | Long Island Lutheran | Forward |
| 2013-14 | Cheick Diallo | Our Savior New American | Center |
| 2014-15 | Cheick Diallo | Our Savior New American | Center |
| 2015-16 | Kevin Huerter | Shenendehowa | Guard |
| 2016-17 | Hameir Wright | Albany Academy | Forward |
| 2017-18 | Joe Girard III | Glens Falls | Guard |
| 2018-19 | Joe Girard III | Glens Falls | Guard |
| 2019-20 | R.J. Davis | Archbishop Stepinac | Guard |
| 2020-21 | Jordan Riley | Brentwood | Guard |
| 2021-22 | Tobe Awaka | Cardinal Hayes | Forward |
| 2022-23 | V.J. Edgecombe | Long Island Lutheran | Wing |
| 2023-24 | V.J. Edgecombe | Long Island Lutheran | Wing |
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| | CROSS COUNTRY | | |
| 2007-08 | Pat Dupont | Fairport | |
| 2008-09 | Joe Whelan | Hamburg | |
| 2009-10 | Alex Deir | Honeoye Falls-Lima | |
| 2010-11 | Edward Owens | Packer Collegiate | |
| 2011-12 | Nick Ryan | Fayetteville-Manlius | |
| 2012-13 | Nick Ryan | Fayetteville-Manlius | |
| 2013-14 | Mickey Burke | Rush-Henrietta | |
| 2014-15 | Bryce Millar | Fayetteville-Manlius | |
| 2015-16 | Ben Petrella | Liverpool | |
| 2016-17 | Ty Brownlow | Liverpool | |
| 2017-18 | Mason Gatewood | St. Anthony's | |
| 2018-19 | Parker Stokes | Maine-Endwell | |
| 2019-20 | Sam Lawler | Pittsford Mendon | |
| 2020-21 | Peyton Geeher | Fayetteville-Manlius | |
| 2021-22 | Gitch Hayes | Troy LaSalle | |
| 2022-23 | Collin Gilstrap | Monroe-Woodbury | |
| 2023-24 | Nolan McGinn | Fayetteville-Manlius | |
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| | SOCCER | | |
| 1985-86 | Steve D'Antonio | Oceanside | Defender |
| 1986-87 | Jason Hadges | New Rochelle | Sweeper |
| 1987-88 | Michael Bianchi | Greece Arcadia | Striker |
| 1988-89 | Kevin Anderson | St. John the Baptist | Midfielder |
| 1989-90 | Tom Henske | Northport | Goalkeeper |
| 1990-91 | Miles Joseph | Shenendehowa | Midfielder |
| 1991-92 | Miles Joseph | Shenendehowa | Forward |
| 1992-93 | Dana Quick | Spencerport | Defender |
| 1993-94 | Jon Busch | Guilderland | Goalkeeper |
| 1994-95 | Matthew Chulis | Central Islip | Midfielder |
| 1995-96 | Dema Kovalenko | Greece Arcadia | Midfielder |
| 1996-97 | Steve Pedicini | East Meadow | Midfielder |
| 1997-98 | Jeff Parrinello | Pittsford Mendon | Midfielder |
| 1998-99 | Jordan Cila | Jericho | Midfielder |
| 1999-00 | Nathaniel Francis | Port Washington | Midfielder |
| 2000-01 | Eric Zegle | John Jay | |
| 2001-02 | Jordan Chirico | Livonia | Midfielder |
| 2002-03 | John Mulhern | Smithtown | Midfielder/defender |
| 2003-04 | Robbie Morgenroth | Woodmere | Midfielder/sweeper |
| 2004-05 | Michele 'Mike' Grella | Glen Cove | Forward |
| 2005-06 | Alex Johnson | Niskayuna | Defender |
| 2006-07 | Wilber Bonilla | Brentwood | Midfielder |
| 2007-08 | Will Ogden | Byram Hills | Forward |
| 2008-09 | Brian Rogers | Bronxville | Forward |
| 2009-10 | Alex Bramall | Newburgh Free Academy | Midfielder |
| 2010-11 | Timothy Parker | Hicksville | Forward/defender |
| 2011-12 | Dakota Edwards | Sayville | Defender |
| 2012-13 | Jeff Medina | Brentwood | Defender |
| 2013-14 | Dylan Klein | Carle Place | Forward |
| 2014-15 | T.J. Butzke | St. Anthony's | Midfielder |
| 2015-16 | Matt Vowinkel | Chaminade | Forward |
| 2016-17 | Jack Beer | Byram Hills | Midfielder/forward |
| 2017-18 | Ousseni Bouda | Millbrook School | Forward |
| 2018-19 | Ousseni Bouda | Millbrook School | Forward |
| 2019-20 | Yaya Bakayoko | Martin Luther King | Midfielder/forward |
| 2020-21 | Francesco Pagano | Fayetteville-Manlius | Forward |
| 2021-22 | Daniel D'Ippolito | Somers | Midfielder |
| 2022-23 | Nicolas Galeano | Scarsdale | Midfielder |
| 2023-24 | Amar Culov | East Aurora | Forward |
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| | TRACK AND FIELD | | |
| 1985-86 | John Trautmann | Monroe-Woodbury | Distance |
| 1986-87 | Joe Galeano | Centerreach | High jump/hurdles |
| 1987-88 | Derrick Adkins | Malverne | Sprints |
| 1988-89 | Brad Sumner | Rochester McQuaid | Middle distance |
| 1989-90 | Mike Going | Wheatley | Distance |
| 1990-91 | Ivan Jean-Marie | Prospect Heights | Sprints |
| 1991-92 | Andre Inniss | Paul Robeson | Middle distance |
| 1992-93 | Jermaine Stafford | Rochester Franklin | Sprints |
| 1993-94 | Kristen Lightbourne | Uniondale | Hurdles/sprints |
| 1994-95 | Matt Tooman | Deer Park | Distance |
| 1995-96 | Joe Matias | Newark | Distance |
| 1996-97 | Sal Gigante | Iona Prep | Weights |
| 1997-98 | Chris Miltenberg | John Glenn | Distance |
| 1998-99 | Dylan Welsh | Saratoga Springs | Middle distance |
| 1999-00 | Sean Lambert | South Shore | Sprints/relays |
| 2000-01 | Perfection Harris | Poly Prep | Horizontal jumps/relays |
| 2001-02 | Brian Dalpiaz | Sayville HS | Distance |
| 2002-03 | Brian Dalpiaz | Sayville HS | Distance |
| 2003-04 | Hakon DeVries | John Jay | Distance |
| 2004-05 | Justin Craddock | Kenmore East | Sprints/long jump/relays |
| 2005-06 | Walter Henning | St. Anthony's | Weights |
| 2006-07 | Walter Henning | St. Anthony's | Weights |
| 2007-08 | Kyle Merber | Half Hollow Hills West | Distance |
| 2008-09 | Will Cole | Hamburg | Hurdles |
| 2009-10 | Mike Quercia | Marcellus | Middle distance |
| 2010-11 | Chard Noelle | Greene | Distance |
| 2011-12 | Nick Ryan | Fayetteville-Manlius | Distance |
| 2012-13 | J.J. Stallworth | Connetquot | Hurdles |
| 2013-14 | Benjamin Bonhurst | Smithtown West | Weights |
| 2014-15 | Rai Benjamin | Mount Vernon | Hurdles/sprints |
| 2015-16 | Rayvon Grey | Beacon | Horizontal jumps |
| 2016-17 | Daniel Claxton | Smithtown East | High jump |
| 2017-18 | Jeremiah Willis | Cicero-North Syracuse | Horizontal jumps |
| 2018-19 | Ken Wei | Mount Sinai | Horizontal jumps, hurdles |
| 2019-20 | Brandon Smith | South Shore | Sprints |
| 2020-21 | Emanuel Joseph | North Rockland | Hurdles |
| 2021-22 | Michael Pinckney | Queens H.S. for Construction Trades, Engineering & Architecture | Throws |
| 2022-23 | Joseph Perazzo | Susan Wagner | Distance |
| 2023-24 | Neil Howard III | Taconic Hills | Multis |
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| | FOOTBALL | | |
| 1985-86 | Clarence Jones | Central Islip | Tackle |
| 1986-87 | Bill Schoenle | Williamsville South | Lineman |
| 1987-88 | Antoine Moore | Hempstead | Running back |
| 1988-89 | Dorsey Levens | Nottingham | Running back/safety |
| 1989-90 | Alcindor Coleman | Aquinas | Defensive line |
| 1990-91 | Andre Johnson | Southampton | Lineman |
| 1991-92 | Ron Brockington | Hempstead | Running back |
| 1992-93 | Brian Underwood | Bronx Lehman | Running back |
| 1993-94 | Brandon Williams | Buffalo South Park | Tight end/linebacker |
| 1994-95 | Joel Stephens | Elmira Notre Dame | Running back/defensive back |
| 1995-96 | Malik Campbell | Buffalo Turner-Carroll | Quarterback/defensive back |
| 1996-97 | Derrick Jones | Comsewogue | Lineman |
| 1997-98 | Marquise Walker | Syracuse Henninger | Wide receiver/defensive back |
| 1998-99 | Clifton Smith | Freeport | Linebacker/running back |
| 1999-00 | Sam Maldonado | Harrison | Running back/defensive end |
| 2000-01 | Leon Williams | Canarsie | Tight end/linebacker |
| 2001-02 | Kwakuo Robinson | Poly Prep | Lineman |
| 2002-03 | Ryan Poles | Canandaigua | Lineman |
| 2003-04 | Mike Hart | Onondaga | Running back |
| 2004-05 | Greg Paulus | Syracuse CBA | Quarterback |
| 2005-06 | Eric Olsen | Poly Prep | Lineman |
| 2006-07 | Mike Paulus | Syracuse CBA | Quarterback |
| 2007-08 | Latavius Murray | Onondaga | Running back/linebacker |
| 2009-09 | Miguel Maysonet | Riverhead | Running back |
| 2009-10 | Dan Scalo | Monroe-Woodbury | Quarterback |
| 2010-11 | Ishaq Williams | Abraham Lincoln | Defensive end/tight end |
| 2011-12 | Akeel Lynch | Buffalo St. Francis | Running back |
| 2012-13 | Tyler Rouse | Baldwinsville | Running back |
| 2013-14 | Curtis Samuel | Erasmus Hall | Running back |
| 2014-15 | Jordan Fredericks | Lawrence | Running back |
| 2015-16 | Jake Zembiec | Aquinas | Quarterback |
| 2016-17 | Jack Coan | Sayville | Quarterback |
| 2017-18 | Jeremy Ruckert | Lindenhurst | Tight end |
| 2018-19 | Trevor Yeboah-Kodie | Garden City | Runing back |
| 2019-20 | Israel Abanikanda | Abraham Lincoln | Running back/defensive back |
| 2020-21 | Clevmer Lubin | Suffern | Running back/defensive end |
| 2021-22 | Charlie McKee | Oceanside | Quarterback |
| 2022-23 | Dante Torres | St. Anthony's | Quarterback |
| 2023-24 | Rich Belin | Cardinal Hayes | Quarterback |
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