Gatorade named incoming Duke University basketball star Cameron Boozer and Brigham Young University (BYU) Cross Country and Track & Field commit Jane Hedengren as the 2024-25 Gatorade Best Male and Best Female Players of the Year, distinguishing the pair as the best high school athletes in the nation. Two-time Gatorade Best Female Player of the Year and 2015-16 & 2016-17 Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Player of the Year Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and 2005-06 Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year Matthew Stafford presented the honors live on stage at The 2025 ESPY Awards. With their selection, Boozer and Hedengren become part of an elite alumni group, which features standout athletes like Jayson Tatum, Candace Parker, Ava Brown and Cooper Flagg.
Hailing from Christopher Columbus High School in Florida, Boozer is recognized for his exceptional performance, leadership and impact on and off the basketball court. He is set to continue his academic and athletic career at Duke University this fall. Hedengren, a standout from Timpview High School in Utah, became just the third female athlete in history to earn Gatorade National Player of the Year honors in both cross country and track & field ahead of her Best Female Player of the Year win, celebrating her outstanding achievements across multiple distance events, in the classroom and her community. She will further her education and compete in cross country and track & field at BYU in the fall.
“Gatorade Player of the Year recognizes exceptional athletes who are paving the way for the future of sport,” said Gatorade Chief Brand Officer Anuj Bhasin. “We’re proud to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of this year’s group, and their bright paths ahead through a one-of-a-kind experience. For decades, these standout individuals have achieved greatness both in their sport and in their communities. We’re excited to see how Cameron and Jane carry the legacy forward.”
The Gatorade Best Player of the Year announcement caps off an exclusive, week-long experience in Los Angeles, honoring the Gatorade National Players of the Year across 12 sports. The brand rolled out the red carpet for these top high school athletes – celebrating their achievements in a way only Gatorade can. Highlights included meeting their sports heroes and Gatorade athletes, giving back to the LA community, engaging in educational and celebratory events, experiencing styling sessions, walking The ESPY Awards red carpet, and more.
This year, Gatorade’s 60-year legacy of sports science was on display at the Player of the Year Awards. Throughout the week, the 11 Gatorade National Players of the Year experienced Gatorade’s superior science in action during an immersive field day, alongside some of their favorite professional athletes including Karl-Anthony Towns, Lisa Leslie, Puka Nacua, Abby Wambach, April Ross and more. Throughout the experience, athletes participated in a variety of drills, personalized testing and analysis from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute to better understand the impact of dehydration and to receive personalized insights on their specific fueling needs.
2024-25 GATORADE BEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
Cameron Boozer: The 6-foot-10 senior power forward led the Explorers to a 30-3 record. Also the 2022-23 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Boozer averaged 22.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.5 blocks this season and led Columbus to a fourth straight Class 7A state championship in March. Boozer was also a Naismith Trophy Award semifinalist and a member of Team USA’s Nike Hoop Summit squad.
Below are additional facts about Boozer:
- Boozer is ranked as the nation’s No. 2 recruit in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports, Rivals.com and On3.com.
- He has volunteered locally on behalf of Fellowship Church by assisting with youth services, including leading weekly bible study. He has also donated his time as a mathematics peer tutor, both in algebra and geometry.
- Boozer has maintained a 4.82 weighted GPA in the classroom.