Justin Anderson Named Gatorade Maryland 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 Justin Anderson of Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) as its 2011-12 Gatorade Maryland Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Anderson is the third Gatorade Maryland Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Montrose Christian 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 Anderson as Maryland'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, Anderson 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-7, 220-pound senior forward led the Mustangs to a 21-2 record and a berth in the 2012 ESPNHS National High School Invitational, scheduled for March 29. Anderson is averaging 18 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game through 23 games. The 2012 Iolani Classic MVP, Anderson is the No. 54 ranked recruit in the Class of 2012 as rated by ESPNU.

Anderson has maintained a 3.11 GPA in the classroom. A devoted member of his church community, he has volunteered locally as a youth basketball coach.

"Justin Anderson is one of the top players in our area and an excellent kid off the floor," said Ivan Thomas, head coach at Kecoughtan High. "He brings passion and energy on every possession."

Anderson has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on an athletic scholarship at the University of Virginia 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 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.

Anderson joins recent Gatorade Maryland Boys Basketball Players of the Year Marcus Thornton (2010-11, Bishop McNamara High School), Josh Hairston (2009-10, Montrose Christian School), Christian Webster (2008-09, Landon School), Sean Mosley (2007-08, St. Frances Academy), and Malcolm Delaney (2006–07, Towson Catholic) 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.