Chaminade College Prep star basketball player Jayson Tatum was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
The 6’9” Tatum received his national award in a ceremony at the school. Presenting the award to Tatum was former NBA star Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, who is also a family friend.
Tatum received his award the day after he played in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago last Wednesday night. He had 18 points, five rebounds and three assists in the McDonald’s Game.
The Gatorade Award is the latest in a long line of accolades that Tatum has received over the course of his stellar four-year prep career. It comes two weeks after he led the Red Devils to the Class 5 state championship in Columbia.
As a senior, Tatum averaged 29.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 52 percent from the field and 86 percent from the free throw line. Tatum will leave Chaminade as the school’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing former McDonald’s All-American Bradley Beal, now of the Washington Wizards.
Beal received the same Gatorade National Player of the Year Award in 2011. He and Tatum become the first two winners of this national award from the same school.
