Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school basketball. The tradition continues to close out the 2024-25 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Cameron Ward of
Largo (Upper Marlboro) is the 2024-25 Maryland MaxPreps Player of the Year. A repeat selection, the 6-foot-7 senior forward led the Lions to a 25-3 record and their second consecutive Class 2A state championship.
For the season, Ward averaged 29.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.6 blocked shots per game. He shot 67.0 percent from the field and 75.7 percent from the free throw line.
In a 50-48 victory over New Town (Owings Mills) in the title game, Ward piled up game-highs of 20 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots. He scored 39 or more points five times during his senior campaign, including a career-high 45 points in a win over College Park Academy (Riverdale) early in the season.
Ward finished with 2,714 career points, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Maryland public school history.
Regarded as the No. 56 prospect in the Class of 2025 according to
247Sports, Ward signed with Michigan State over offers from Arkansas, Kansas State, Marquette, Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and Villanova among others.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team, which is scheduled to be released April 8. Past selections include 2023-24 All-NBA picks Devin Booker (2014), Jalen Brunson (2014, 2015), Anthony Davis (2011), Kevin Durant (2006), Anthony Edwards (2019) and Jayson Tatum (2014, 2015, 2016).
Past Maryland MaxPreps Players of the Year2019-20 – Hunter Dickinson, DeMatha (Hyattsville)
2020-21 – Jordan Hawkins, DeMatha
2021-22 – Cam Whitmore, Archbishop Spalding (Severn)
2022-23 – Amani Hansberry, Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore)
2023-24 – Cameron Ward, Largo (Upper Marlboro)
