Gatorade has been awarding Players of the Year to North Carolina high school athletes since the 1985-86 season, when it was just baseball, track and field, basketball, and boys soccer. It now also awards them in cross country, softball, volleyball, and girls soccer.

Below is a list of every Gatorade Player of the Year award winner.

Note the following annotations:

Multiple-time winners are underlined

National winners are in bold

Winners across multiple sports have an asterisk*

The overall national male or female athlete of the year has the pound sign (#)

Baseball

Walker Jenkins delivers an autographed baseball to a fan following a game on Tuesday Apr. 18, 2023 in Wilmington, NC (Photo: Evan Moesta/HighSchoolOT)

Boys Basketball

Edrice “Bam” Adebayo (13) of High Point Christian. John Wall Bracket Championship featuring: Arlington Country Day vs. High Point Christian, on December 30, 2015 in the 44th annual HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational at Broughton High School in Raleigh, NC. High Point Christian beat Arlington Country Day 75 to 63 to win the John Wall Championship. (Photo By: Suzie Wolf)

2025 — Dionte Neal, Reidsville

2024 — Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg

2023 — Jarin Stevenson, Seaforth

2022 — Paul McNeil, Richmond

2021 — Terquavion Smith, Farmville Central

2020 — Jaden Bradley, Cannon School

2019 — Wendell Moore, Cox Mill

2018 — Coby White, Greenfield

2017 — Coby White, Greenfield

2016 — Bam Adebayo, High Point Christian

2015 — Dennis Smith Jr., Trinity Christian

2014 — Keyshawn Woods, Northside Christian

2013 — Isaiah Hicks, J.F. Webb

2012 — Rodney Purvis, Upper Room Christian

2011 — Marshall Plumlee, Christ School

2010 — Reggie Bullock, Kinston

2009 — Ryan Kelly, Ravenscroft

2008 — Ty Walker, New Hanover

2007 — Ty Walker, New Hanover

2006 — Will Graves, Dudley

2005 — Kevin Swinton, Dudley

2004 — Roy Bright, Mt. Zion Christian

2003 — Chris Paul, West Forsyth

2002 — Shavlik Randolph, Broughton

2001 — Mitchell Baldwin, R.J. Reynolds

2000 — Scooter Sherrill, West Rowan

1999 — Jason Parker, West Charlotte

1998 — Kris Lang, Hunter Huss

1997 — Brendan Haywood, Dudley

1996 — Vincent Whitt, Dudley

1995 — Courtney Alexander, Jordan

1994 — Ishua Benjamin, Concord

1993 — Jeff Capel, South View

1992 — Jerry Stackhouse, Kinston

1991 — Donald Williams, Garner

1990 — Rodney Rogers, Hillside

1989 — Donnie Seale, Morehead

1988 — Kenneth Williams, Northeastern

1987 — Robert Siler, Jordan-Matthews*

1986 — Brian Howard, North Forsyth

Girls Basketball

Sarah Strong of Grace Christian. Grace Christian’s top-ranked girls team improved to 21-0 on the season with a 76-46 win at North Raleigh Christian on January 23, 2024. (Photo: Evan Moesta/HighSchoolOT.com)

2025 — Kate Sears, Watauga

2024 — Sarah Strong, Grace Christian of Sanford

2023 — Sarah Strong, Grace Christian of Sanford

2022 — Indya Nivar, Apex Friendship

2021 — Saniya Rivers, Ashley (national winner)

2020 — Saniya Rivers, Ashley

2019 — Saniya Rivers, Laney

2018 — Izabela Nicoletti, Neuse Christian

2017 — Mikayla Boykin, Clinton

2016 — Erin Whalen, Providence Day

2015 — Stephanie Watts, Weddington

2014 — Jatarie White, Providence Day

2013 — Jatarie White, Providence Day

2012 — Tiffany Mitchell, Providence Day

2011 — Cierra Burdick, Butler

2010 — Cierra Burdick, Butler

2009 — Asia Williams, Hillside

2008 — Candace Wood, Victory Christian Center

2007 — Cetera DeGraffenreid, Smoky Mountain

2006 — Jessica Breland, Bertie

2005 — Rashanda McCants, Asheville

2004 — Chante Black, East Forsyth

2003 — Camille Little, Carver

2002 — Kerri Gardin, Freedom

2001 — Natasha Brackett, Providence Day

2000 — Chrystal Baptist, Charlotte Christian

1999 — Amy Simpson, Morehead

1998 — Carisse Moody, Northern Nash

1997 — Tere Williams, Orange

1996 — Shea Ralph, Terry Sanford

1995 — Natasha Davis, Freedom

1994 — Tiffani Johnson, Garinger

1993 — Konecka Drakeford, Providence Day

1992 — Wendy Palmer, Person

1991 — Konecka Drakeford, Providence Day

1990 — Tonya Sampson, Clinton

1989 — Danyel Parker, Clinton

1988 — Tisha England, Newton-Conover

1987 — Andrea Stinson, North Mecklenburg

1986 — Schonna Banner, West Caldwell

Boys Cross Country

Athens Drive’s Noah Valyo won the individual championship while Marvin Ridge beat out Broughton to win the team championship at the NCHSAA 4A boys cross country state championships on Saturday, November 4, 2023. (Photo By: Joel Bryant/HighSchoolOT)

Girls Cross Country

Myers Park’s Mary Bonner Dalton won the individual championship while Cardinal Gibbons beat out Cuthbertson to win the team championship at the NCHSAA 4A girls cross country state championships on Saturday, November 4, 2023. (Photo By: Joel Bryant/HighSchoolOT)

Football

Faizon Brandon (11) of Grimsley. Grimsley battled Rolesville for the 4A Championship on Friday, December 20, 2024. (Photo by: Jerrell Jordan)

2024 — Faizon Brandon, Grimsley

2023 — David Sanders, Providence Day

2022 — Jadyn Davis, Providence Day

2021 — Omarion Hampton, Cleveland

2020 — Jalon Walker, Salisbury

2019 — Will Shipley, Weddington

2018 — Sam Howell, Sun Valley

2017 — Quavaris Crouch, Harding

2016 — Zamir White, Scotland

2015 — Chazz Surratt, East Lincoln

2014 — Josh Ladowski, Lake Norman

2013 — Will Grier, Davidson Day

2012 — Will Grier, Davidson Day

2011 — Keith Marshall, Millbrook

2010 — Christian LeMay, Butler

2009 — Christian LeMay, Butler

2008 — Xavier Nixon, Jack Britt

2007 — Braden Hanson, Charlotte Latin

2006 — Trinton Sturdivant, Anson

2005 — Carl Johnson, Southern Durham

2004 — Joe Cox, Independence

2003 — DeMario Pressley, Dudley

2002 — Chris Leak, Independence

2001 — Chris Leak, Independence

2000 — Josh Brown, Crest

1999 — Clarence Gaddy, Western Harnett

1998 — Nick Maddox, A.L. Brown

1997 — Brian Norwood, Richmond

1996 — DeAngelo Lloyd, Independence

1995 — Titcus Pettigrew, West Forsyth

1994 — Jason Peace, Northern Durham

1993 — Anthony Wright, West Craven

1992 — Trot Nixon, New Hanover*

1991 — Marcus Jones, Southwest Onslow

1990 — Donnie Davis, Cummings

1989 — Mike Thomas, Richmond

1988 — Pedro Cherry, Bertie

1987 — Walter Boyd, Orange

1986 — Robert Siler, Jordan-Matthews*

1985 — Stanley Daniels, Bandys

Boys Soccer

Aidan Payne (10) of New Hanover. New Hanover defeated Hough 3-0 in the 4A boys soccer state championship at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Photo By: Brennan Doherty/HighSchoolOT)

Girls Soccer

Taylor Suarez (7) of Ardrey Kell. State Championship MVP Ally Casey scored twice as Ardrey Kell defeated Ashley 3-2 to win the 2023 NCHSAA 4A Girls Soccer State Championship at the University of North Carolina Greensboro on Friday June 2, 2023 (Photo: Evan Moesta/HighSchoolOT)

Softball

Mia Davidson (33) of Orange. NCHSAA 3A Softball State Championship Game 1 with Orange County High School vs Piedmont High School. Orange defeats Piedmont with a 2 run homer in the bottom on the 6th by Mia Davidson (33). Final score 3 to 2 with game one in the books. Photo by: Suzie Wolf

Boys Track & Field

Le’Ezra Brown of Dudley

2025 — Le’Ezra Brown, Dudley

2024 — Le’Ezra Brown, Dudley

2023 — Rocky Hansen, Christ School*

2022 — Rocky Hansen, Christ School*

2021 — Spencer Williams, Davie County

2020 — Cameron Rose, Hickory Ridge

2019 — Kyle Durham, Weddington

2018 — Jamar Davis, Orange

2017 — Connor Lane, Cardinal Gibbons

2016 — Marcus Krah, Hillside

2015 — Keon Howe, Mallard Creek

2014 — Trentavis Friday, Cherryville (national winner)

2013 — John Crossley, West Carteret

2012 — Craig Engels, Reagan

2011 — Eric Winfrey, Douglas Byrd

2010 — Isaac Presson, Asheville

2009 — Wayne Davis, Southeast Raleigh

2008 — Dylan Ferris, East Forsyth

2007 — Johnny Dutch, Clayton

2006 — Jack Bolas, Chapel Hill

2005 — J-Mee Samuels, Mount Tabor

2004 — Andre Tillman, North Rowan

2003 — Matt DeBole, Mount Tabor

2002 — Matt Loyd, Mount Tabor

2001 — Robert Boulware, Chambers

2000 — Ricky Brookshire, Watauga

1999 — Thomas Lewis, Douglas Byrd

1998 — Greg Yeldell, North Rowan

1997 — Greg Yeldell, North Rowan

1996 — Ramondo North, West Charlotte

1995 — Chris Wylie, Myers Park

1994 — Robbie Howell, Apex

1993 — Alvis Whitted, Orange

1992 — Shannon Pope, T.W. Andrews

1991 — Brian Ellis, North Rowan

1990 — David Adair, Garinger

1989 — Larry Harrington, Millbrook

1988 — Randy Jordan, Warren County

1987 — Elbert Ellis, Hillside

1986 — Tarrell Carpenter, Hoke County

Girls Track & Field

South Granville’s Shawnti Jackson wins the 200. The NCHSAA 2A and 4A Track & Field State Championships on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University on Friday May 19, 2023 (Photo: Evan Moesta/HighSchoolOT)

2025 —

2024 — Joslyn Hamilton, Rolesville

2023 — Shawnti Jackson, South Granville

2022 — Akala Garrett, Harding

2021 — Akala Garrett, Harding

2020 — Morgan Smalls, Panther Creek

2019 — Morgan Smalls, Panther Creek

2018 — Veronica Fraley, Wakefield

2017 — Tamara Clark, High Point Central

2016 — Anna Cockrell, Providence Day

2015 — Anna Cockrell, Providence Day

2014 — Sydnei Murphy, Apex

2013 — Wesley Frazier, Ravenscroft*

2012 — Wesley Frazier, Ravenscroft*

2011 — Kendra Harrison, Clayton

2010 — Sanura Eley O’Reilly, Jack Britt

2009 — Aslynn Halvorson, Butler

2008 — Jacinda Evans, Southern Durham

2007 — Gabby Mayo, Southeast Raleigh

2006 — Gabby Mayo, Southeast Raleigh

2005 — Kamorean Hayes, Harding

2004 — Mackenzie Pierce, Forsyth Country Day

2003 — Mackenzie Pierce, Forsyth Country Day

2002 — Julia Lucas, Myers Park

2001 — Latasha Pharr, North Rowan

2000 — Latasha Pharr, North Rowan

1999 — Kim Jones, Grimsley

1998 — Demitria Washington, Terry Sanford

1997 — Adriane Sims, Douglas Byrd

1996 — Adriane Sims, Douglas Byrd

1995 — Twyla Smith, Pinecrest

1994 — DeAnne Davis, Cummings

1993 — Karen Godlock, Polk County

1992 — Ami Herrman, Providence

1991 — Tonya Avery, Jacksonville

1990 — Nikki Friday, Lexington

1989 —Melissa Morrison, A.L. Brown

1988 — L’Tania Hall, Washington

1987 — Francine Dumas, T.C. Roberson

1986 — Pam Doggett, Dudley

Volleyball