Twelve high school athletes were selected as Gatorade’s 2025-26 National Players of the Year, chosen from 610 state winners across every state and Washington, D.C.
The annual honor recognizes not only elite performance but also academics and community impact, extending a program Gatorade has run since 1985.
This year’s class spans football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, track and field, cross country and soccer, with several winners already posting standout milestones such as national titles, undefeated seasons and record times.
Among the most notable achievements, football winner Jackson Cantwell became the first full-time offensive lineman to take the national award, while track hurdler Zacchaeus Brocks became the first high schooler under 13 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles.
The award’s alumni list includes stars such as LeBron James, Peyton Manning, Candace Parker and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, underscoring the winners’ path toward higher-level competition.