Garfield Heights’ Marcus Johnson named Gatorade Ohio Boys Basketball Player of the Year
In its 39th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, Gatorade announced Marcus Johnson of Garfield Heights High School is the 2023-24 Gatorade Ohio Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Johnson is the first Gatorade Ohio Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Garfield Heights High School.
The award, which celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the court, in the classroom and in the community, distinguishes Johnson as Ohio’s best high school boys basketball player. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of alumni that includes LeBron James (2002-03 & 2001-02, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Ohio), KarlAnthony Towns (2013-14 & 2012-13, St. Joseph High School, N.J.) and Jayson Tatum (2015-16, 2014-15 & 2013-14, Chaminade College Preparatory School, Mo.).
At the time of his selection, the 6-foot-2, 170-pound sophomore guard had led the Bulldogs to a 25-1 record and a berth in the Division I, Region 1 tournament championship game. Johnson averaged 23.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals through 26 games.
In 2023, he became the first freshman ever selected as a First Team All-Ohio honoree. He’s ranked as the nation’s No. 11 recruit in the Class of 2026 by ESPN.
Johnson is a member of a Bible study group and he’s volunteered locally as a peer tutor.
“Marcus is really good,” said Danny Young, head coach of Shaker Heights High School. “He can beat a scouting report even when you know he’s the go-to guy. He makes others better, too, and plays both ends. Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time
games. Marcus shows up when it matters most and when the lights are brightest.”
Johnson has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his junior year of high school his 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.
Johnson joins recent Gatorade Ohio Boys Basketball Players of the Year George Washington III (2022-23, Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School), Paul McMillan IV (2021-22, Woodward Career Technical High School), Chris Livingston (2020-21, Buchtel High School) and VonCameron Davis (2019-20, Walnut Ridge High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.
As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $4.9 million across more than 1,600 organizations.
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.
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