Tony Parker Named Gatorade Georgia Boys Basketball Player of the Year

CHICAGO (March 22, 2012) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced Tony Parker of Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) as its 2011-12 Gatorade Georgia Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Parker is the first Gatorade Georgia Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Miller Grove 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 Parker as Georgia'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, Parker joins an elite alumni association of past state boys basketball award winners, including Dwight Howard (2003-04, SW Atlanta Christian Academy, Ga.), Chauncey Billups (1993-94 & 1994-95, George Washington HS, Colo.), Jason Kidd (1991-92, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS, Calif.), Paul Pierce (1994-95, Inglewood HS, Calif.) and Chris Bosh (2001-02, Lincoln HS, Texas).

The 6-foot-9, 270-pound senior power forward and center led the Wolverines to a 23-9 record and the Class AAAA state championship this past season. Parker averaged 16.2 points, 10.9 rebounds and three blocks per game. A 2012 McDonald's All-American Game selection and a 2012 Jordan Brand Classic game invitee, Parker is the No. 21 ranked recruit in the Class of 2012 as rated by ESPNU.

Parker has maintained a 3.0 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and has participated in food and clothing drives for needy families.

"Tony Parker has been a force in our region for the last two years," said Adam Griffin, head coach at Dunwoody High. "His game has improved each year and he consistently plays hard no matter the outcome of the game."

Parker remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

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 ESPNHS and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, 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.

Parker joins recent Gatorade Georgia Boys Basketball Players of the Year Shannon Scott (2010-11, Milton High School), Ryan Harrow (2009-10, Walton), Derrick Favors (2007-08 & 2008-09, South Atlanta High School), and Gani Lawal (2006–07, Norcross) among the state's list of former award winners.

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 playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.