Youth Athlete-Celebrating Initiatives : exceptional high school athletes

Gatorade has recognized two exceptional high school athletes — Cameron Boozer and Jane Hedengren — as its 2024-25 Best Male and Female Players of the Year. With this title, the brand is honoring their outstanding achievements in basketball and distance running, respectively.

Boozer, a 6-foot-10 power forward from Christopher Columbus High School in Florida, led his team to a fourth consecutive state championship while averaging 22.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. This has solidified him as the nation’s as one of the nation’s top recruits before joining Duke University. Hedengren, a distance runner from Utah’s Timpview High School, made history as only the third female athlete to win Gatorade National Player of the Year honors in both cross country and track & field. She has multiple national records in events ranging from the mile to the 5,000-meter run.

Beyond their athletic dominance and status as exceptional high school athletes, both honorees have demonstrated strong academic performance and community involvement, with Boozer tutoring peers in math and Hedengren coaching youth runners.

Image Credit: Joe Greer