The Gatorade Player of the Year program has been recognizing the country’s best high school athletes for the last 35 years.
While sports across the US have been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, this hasn’t stopped the 2019-20 awards from being handed out. Across Mississippi, a number of male and
female athletes have been named as winners in their respective sports.
Male Baseball – Blaze Jordan
This DeSoto Central High School student took the title in baseball, becoming the second baseball player from this school to win the award. Austin Riley was the recipient in 2013-14.
Jordan is regarded as being one of the top draft picks in the country. He played a big part in the 12-1 record for the Jaguars before the health crisis that caused the season to be cut short.
He batted .422, including 6 doubles, 5 triples, and 4 RBI. Jordan is also described as being a devoted church-goer and has a 3.91 GPA in his academic studies. It has been reported that he will
play baseball for Mississippi State University, although he has also been tipped for an early call up to the MLB. Do not be surprise to see as one of BetAmerica.com top picks for online baseball betting in the future.
Male Basketball – Daeshun Ruffin
This 5 foot 10 guard became the second Calllaway High School basketball player to win the Gatorade award. Ruffin was part of the 25-5 record put together by the Chargers last season. He scored an average of 26.8 points and also averaged 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.9 steals in each
game. Opposition coaches have called him a great player, and it seems likely that he ends up in the NBA. Those fans who enjoy basketball should definitely keep an eye out for him in the years to come. He is rated as the country’s 21st best recruit in his age group. Away from the sport, he carries out volunteer work and has a B average in classes. Ruffin now joins the shortlist for the 2019-20 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award, which has been postponed due to the pandemic.
Female Basketball – Jacorriah Bracey
This 5 foot 11 senior guard has become the first girls’ basketball player from Thomas E. Edwards High School to win the Gatorade award. She now moves into the running for the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award. Her 2019-20 season involved helping the Tigers to an 18-4 record while recording an average of 35 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists in those games. She is listed at the 48th best recruit in the US for the class of 2020. These awards are based on the athletes’ academic results and character too. In that respect, Bracey has volunteered at nursing homes and in a program for elementary school students. This fall, she will join University of Mississippi to play her basketball.
Other Winners
Among the other winning athletes from Mississippi is distance runner Christian Balcer. The student from East Central High School won in the category of Mississippi Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. He won the MHSAA 5A state title by a minute last season, clocking in at 15:50.60.
Brooklyn Biancamano from Long Beach High School was the female Cross Country Runner of the Year winner. She came home in 18:33.20 to win the MHSAA 5A State Championships by a clear minute, which was one of 8 victories in 9 runs last season.
Volleyball player Parker Bracken of Jackson Academy won the award in her chosen sport. She completed 648 kills, 517 digs, 120 aces, and 37 blocks in a season where she had a hitting percentage of .459.
Ty Keyes won in the football section. The quarterback from Taylorsville High School helped the Tartars to a 14-1 season. He passed 3,597 yards and for 41 touchdowns, as well as rushing 350 yards and scoring three times in those games.
