LOS ANGELES (AP) Jayson Tatum, a forward headed to Duke was honored as the male national prep athlete of the year Tuesday night.
Tatum starred at Chaminade College Prep in Creve Coeur, Missouri. He averaged 29.5 points and 9.1 rebounds as a senior, leading the suburban St. Louis school to this year’s Class 5 state championship. Tatum scored 40 points in the title game, a mark he topped in six games as a senior.
Tatum accepted his silver trophy from Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, LA Rams player Todd Gurley, NBA rookie of the year Karl-Anthony Towns, who won two years ago, and retired soccer star Landon Donovan.
“Dad, I love you,”’ Tatum said. “Mom, I’m the biggest momma’s boy in the world and I’m not going to change anytime soon.”
Tatum thanked his high school teammates and his fellow nominees, saying, “Any one of us could have won this award.”
Previous winners of the award sponsored by Gatorade include LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Kevin Love.