Gatorade and USA Today High School Sports recently announced that Admon Gilder, a student at James Madison High School, is its 2014–15 Gatorade Texas Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Gilder is the first athlete in his school’s history to be chosen for the award that recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court.
“It means a lot to have been named for this honor,” Gilder said. “It’s a big accolade that not many players and athletes get a chance to experience. I’ve been working so hard all these years and it is rewarding to know that my hard work has finally paid off.”
Following his appointment as the Gatorade Texas Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Gilder also become a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
“It means a lot to the school and community that one of our own can be recognized for such a great honor,” said Marcus Gates, the James Madison High School athletic coordinator. “Admon is not only an exceptional athlete, but he is an even better student.”
Statistically, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound shooting guard averaged 30.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game this past season. He led his team to a 25-8 record en route to a Class 4A state semifinal finish and recognition as the 2015 11-4A District MVP.
“Admon Gilder is a very special player,” said W.T. White Head Coach Craig Bankhead. “He has all the tools—skills, desire, and character—anyone would want and need in their basketball program. There is no doubt Madison would not be the championship caliber program it is today without him.”
Gilder has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete as a scholarship athlete for the Texas A&M University Aggies basketball team this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school sports. The program awards one National Player of the Year in each sport for 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 and field.
