GREENFIELD SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED GATORADE® NORTH CAROLINA BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (March 20, 2017) — In its 32nd year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, today announced Coby White of Greenfield School as its 2016-17 Gatorade North Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year. White is the first Gatorade North Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Greenfield School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes White as North Carolina’s best high school boys basketball player.
Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March, White joins an elite alumni association of past state boys basketball award winners, including Karl-Anthony Towns (2012-13 & 2013-14, St. Joseph HS, N.J.), Dwight Howard (2003-04, SW Atlanta Christian Academy, Ga.), Chris Bosh (2001-02, Lincoln HS, Texas), Paul Pierce (1994-95, Inglewood HS, Calif.), Chauncey Billups (1993-94 & 1994-95, George Washington HS, Colo.) and Jason Kidd (1991-92, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS, Calif.).
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound junior guard led the Knights to a 23-11 record and the semifinals of the North Carolina Independent Schools 1A tournament this past season. White averaged 31.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. An All-State selection and the Coastal Plain Independent Conference Player of the Year, he is ranked as the nation’s No. 33 recruit in the Class of 2018 by ESPN.
White has volunteered locally collecting Christmas gifts for foster children. “Coby White is very, very tough to defend,” said David Flowers, head coach at Wayne Country Day School. “He can score any way that he wants to. He can get to the rim, he can shoot from outside the arc—he’s just a different-level kid.”
White has maintained a 3.06 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport.
The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
White joins recent Gatorade North Carolina Boys Basketball Players of the Year Edrice "Bam" Adebayo (2015-16, High Point Christian Academy), Dennis Smith Jr. (2014-15, Trinity Christian School), Keyshawn Woods (2013-14, NortHigh Schoolide Christian Academy), Isaiah Hicks (2012-13, J.F. Webb High School), Rodney Purvis (2011-12, Upper Room Christian Academy), Marshall Plumlee (2010-11, Christ School), Reggie Bullock (2009-10, Kinston High School), Ryan Kelly (2008-09, Ravenscroft School), and Ty Walker (2007-08 & 2006–07, New Hanover High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.
As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Coby will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.
CHICAGO (March 20, 2017) — In its 32nd year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, today announced Coby White of Greenfield School as its 2016-17 Gatorade North Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year. White is the first Gatorade North Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Greenfield School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes White as North Carolina’s best high school boys basketball player.
Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March, White joins an elite alumni association of past state boys basketball award winners, including Karl-Anthony Towns (2012-13 & 2013-14, St. Joseph HS, N.J.), Dwight Howard (2003-04, SW Atlanta Christian Academy, Ga.), Chris Bosh (2001-02, Lincoln HS, Texas), Paul Pierce (1994-95, Inglewood HS, Calif.), Chauncey Billups (1993-94 & 1994-95, George Washington HS, Colo.) and Jason Kidd (1991-92, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS, Calif.).
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound junior guard led the Knights to a 23-11 record and the semifinals of the North Carolina Independent Schools 1A tournament this past season. White averaged 31.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. An All-State selection and the Coastal Plain Independent Conference Player of the Year, he is ranked as the nation’s No. 33 recruit in the Class of 2018 by ESPN.
White has volunteered locally collecting Christmas gifts for foster children. “Coby White is very, very tough to defend,” said David Flowers, head coach at Wayne Country Day School. “He can score any way that he wants to. He can get to the rim, he can shoot from outside the arc—he’s just a different-level kid.”
White has maintained a 3.06 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport.
The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
White joins recent Gatorade North Carolina Boys Basketball Players of the Year Edrice "Bam" Adebayo (2015-16, High Point Christian Academy), Dennis Smith Jr. (2014-15, Trinity Christian School), Keyshawn Woods (2013-14, NortHigh Schoolide Christian Academy), Isaiah Hicks (2012-13, J.F. Webb High School), Rodney Purvis (2011-12, Upper Room Christian Academy), Marshall Plumlee (2010-11, Christ School), Reggie Bullock (2009-10, Kinston High School), Ryan Kelly (2008-09, Ravenscroft School), and Ty Walker (2007-08 & 2006–07, New Hanover High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.
As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Coby will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.
