Chaminade Julienne’s George Washington III named Gatorade Ohio Boys Basketball Player of the Year

In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade recently announced George Washington III of Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Ohio Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Washington is the first Gatorade Ohio Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Chaminade Julienne Catholic High 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 Washington as Ohio’s best high school boys basketball player. Washington joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Chet Holmgren (2020-21, Minnehaha Academy, Minn.), Trae Young (2016-17, Norman North High School, Ok.). Jayson Tatum (2015-16, Chaminade College Preparatory School, Mo.), and Karl-Anthony Towns (2013-14 & 2012-13, St. Joseph High School, N.J.).

At the time of his selection, the 6-foot-2, 178-pound senior guard had led the Eagles to a 25-2 record and a berth in the Division II, Region 8 tournament final.

Washington averaged 24.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game while connecting on 47.3 percent of his 3-pointers (61-of-129) through 26 contests.

The Southwest District Division II Player of the Year, Washington transferred from Kentucky to Chaminade-Julienne prior to his senior year. He’s ranked as the nation’s No. 86 recruit in the Class of 2023 by ESPN.com and had scored 3,086 points in his prep basketball career entering the regional final.

Washington has volunteered locally on behalf of multiple community service initiatives through his church community. He has also purchased Christmas gifts for families in need.

“George’s stats are incredible, especially for the schedule his team played,” said Donnie Tate, head coach of Bellbrook High. “Every game, he’s being face-guarded, guarded by the other team’s best defender and double-teamed. To shoot [47.3 percent] from the 3-point line and score [24.1] points per game against those defenses on their schedule is incredible. He’s also stepped up in big moments of their biggest games.”

Washington has maintained a weighted 4.36 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at the University of Michigan 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 leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.

Washington joins recent Gatorade Ohio Boys Basketball Players of the Year Paul McMillan IV (2021-22, Woodward Career Technical High School), Chris Livingston (2020-21, Buchtel High School), VonCameron Davis (2019-20, Walnut Ridge High School) and Ben Roderick (2018-19, Olentangy Liberty High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.

Being a Gatorade Player of the Year means paying it forward for the next generation. Through Gatorade’s Play it Forward initiative, every Player of the Year receives a grant to give to one of Gatorade’s social impact partners, supporting Gatorade’s ambition to fuel the future of sport. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.

For nearly 40 years, Gatorade has honored high school athletes at the top of their game as teammates, supporting their communities and achieving academic success. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes and community leaders, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student- athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow us on social media on Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY, Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade and Twitter at twitter.com/Gatorade.