Now, we are turning our attention to the state level, selecting the top male athlete in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The athletes recognized were selected either for exceptional all-around success across multiple sports or for achieving elite, national-level distinction in a single sport. Read on for a look at the winner in your state.
Alabama
Garrett Reid, Deshler (Tuscumbia)
Football, basketball, baseball
Reid earned all-state honors in football, basketball and baseball from the Alabama Sports Writers Association. A Samford baseball signee, he went 8-1 on the mound this season while batting .400, showcasing his impact as one of the state’s premier multi-sport athletes.
Alaska
Deuce Alailefaleula, Bartlett (Anchorage)
Football, track and field
Alailefaleula was named the MaxPreps Alaska Player of the Year in football after compiling 117 tackles, 11 sacks and five blocked field goals. He also captured the Division I state championship in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 53-3.5.
Arizona
Roye Oliver III, Hamilton (Chandler)
Football
The MaxPreps National Sophomore Player of the Year, Oliver tied the Arizona state record with 29 touchdown receptions. Since then, he has reclassified to the Class of 2027 and committed to play at USC.
Arkansas
Kane Archer, Greenwood
Football
Archer became the first player in state history to throw 100 career touchdown passes while also rushing for 50. His historic production earned him MaxPreps Arkansas Player of the Year honors.
California
Wes Burford, Oakdale
Football, wrestling, track and field
Burford led California in scoring with 295 points and finished his career as the Sac-Joaquin Section’s all-time leading rusher with 7,364 yards. He also ranked No. 3 nationally at 215 pounds in wrestling and will continue his football career at Air Force.
Colorado
Owen Twesme, Palmer Ridge (Monument)
Football, track and field
An all-state football selection, Twesme has also established himself as one of Colorado’s top throwers. He is a two-time state champion in the shot put and owns the state record with a mark of 60-11.
Connecticut
Abdou Toure, Notre Dame (West Haven)
Basketball
Toure earned state POY honors for the third consecutive season after averaging 24.9 points per game. He finished his high school career with 1,981 points.
Delaware
Vincent Evans III, Seaford
Football, basketball, baseball
The Class 1A Player of the Year in football, Evans also surpassed 1,000 career points in basketball while earning second-team all-state honors. In baseball, he was a two-time all-state selection.
District of Columbia
Anthony Sarro, Gonzaga
Cross country, indoor track and field, track and field
Sarro captured the district cross country championship and owns the top times in D.C. in the 1,500 meters, 1,600 meters, mile and 3,200 meters. During the indoor season, he also won district titles in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters.
Florida
Caleb Gaskins, Columbus (Miami)
Basketball
Named the MaxPreps Florida Player of the Year, Gaskins was also selected as a McDonald’s All-American and Florida Mr. Basketball by the Florida Dairy Farmers. He averaged 22.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while leading one of the state’s top programs.
Georgia
Kaiden Prothro, Bowdon
Football
The MaxPreps Georgia Player of the Year, Prothro emerged as one of the nation’s top tight end prospects. After graduating early to enroll at Georgia on a football scholarship, he left behind a resume that also included all-state honors in basketball and baseball as a junior.
Hawaii
Layden Kauka, Kohala (Kapaau)
Basketball
Kauka earned MaxPreps Player of the Year honors following a dominant senior season in which he led Kohala to a 25-4 record and a Division II state championship. He averaged 26.3 points per game and was the driving force behind the title run.
Idaho
Titus Vidlak, Fruitland
Football, baseball
The Idaho Statesman’s Class 4A State Player of the Year in football, Vidlak also excelled on the baseball diamond. He hit .506 with 43 runs and 26 RBI.
Illinois
Logan Abrams, Cary-Grove (Cary)
Football, track and field
An all-state selection at linebacker, Abrams was also one of the top throwers in the state with personal bests of 66-1.5 in the shot put and 190-5 in the discus.
Indiana
Myles McLaughlin, Knox
Football, basketball, baseball
McLaughlin delivered one of the most remarkable seasons in high school football history, rushing for a national-record 4,768 yards and 71 touchdowns. His record-setting campaign earned him MaxPreps Indiana Player of the Year honors.
Iowa
Dreshaun Ross, Fort Dodge
Football/Wrestling
An all-state football standout who recorded 33 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, Ross was equally dominant on the wrestling mat. The nation’s top-ranked heavyweight won four state championships and finished his career with a 146-2 record.
Kansas
Zane Farney, Sterling
Football, basketball, track and field
Farney led Sterling to undefeated state championship seasons in both football (13-0) and basketball (26-0). The state 1A Offensive Player of the Year in football, he also earned all-state honors in basketball and captured a state title as a hurdler in track and field.
Kentucky
Jordyn Raney, Union County (Morganfield)
Wrestling
Raney became the first six-time state champion in Kentucky history while also establishing himself on the international stage as a Greco-Roman world champion. He completed his high school career with a 203-4 record and 186 pins.
Louisiana
Ahmad Hudson, Ruston
Football, basketball
A MaxPreps Junior All-American in both football and basketball, Hudson averaged 19.7 points and 13.4 rebounds on the hardwood. On the gridiron, he was widely regarded as the nation’s top tight end prospect.
Maine
Mason Henderson, Leavitt (Turner)
Football, track and field
An all-state utility player in football, Henderson was also a Fitzpatrick Trophy semifinalist, awarded annually to Maine’s top football player. In track and field, he won state titles in the 100 and 400 meters and broke the state record in the 200.
Maryland
Quincy Wilson, Bullis (Potomac)
Indoor track and field, track and field
An Olympic gold medalist following his sophomore season in 2024, Wilson closed his high school career with a victory in the 400 meters at New Balance Nationals Indoor. He also captured the 400-meter title at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational.
Massachusetts
Brody Bumila, Bishop Feehan (Attleboro)
Basketball, baseball
The MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year led Bishop Feehan to a state basketball championship while averaging 30.6 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. On the baseball field, he went 6-0 with 108 strikeouts, including a 20-strikeout no-hitter. He possesses a 100-mile per hour fastball that has made him a potential first-round MLB Draft pick.
Michigan
Samson Gash, Catholic Central (Novi)
Football, track and field
An all-state football player, Gash hauled in 58 receptions for 997 yards and 14 touchdowns. Despite an injury at the state track meet, he posted one of Michigan’s fastest times in the 100 meters at 10.51 after breaking a state record of 10.41 as a junior.
Minnesota
Tate Swanson, Hibbing
Ice hockey
Swanson led Hibbing to the state final for the second consecutive season and earned state POY honors. His recognition was particularly notable because he competed at the Class 1A level, the state’s smallest classification.
Mississippi
Cole Prosek, Magnolia Heights (Senatobia)
Football, baseball
One of the nation’s home run leaders with 18, Prosek earned MaxPreps Mississippi Player of the Year honors in baseball after guiding Magnolia Heights to a state championship. He was also a standout football player for the Chiefs.
Missouri
Jackson Cantwell, Nixa
Football
Although he did not compete in track and field this year after leading the nation in the shot put as a junior, Cantwell remains one of Missouri’s premier athletes. A five-star football recruit, he is considered one of the top prospects ever produced by the state and was the MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year as a junior.
Montana
Gage Allen, Russell (Great Falls)
Football, wrestling, baseball
Allen won a state wrestling championship at 190 pounds while earning all-state honors in football and contributing to the baseball team.
Nebraska
Jett Thomalla, Millard South (Omaha)
Football
Widely regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects ever produced by Nebraska, Thomalla broke state records with 10,253 career passing yards and 134 touchdown passes. He earned MaxPreps Nebraska Player of the Year honors before enrolling at Alabama.
Nevada
Tyson McNeil, Spanish Springs (Sparks)
Football, basketball, baseball
McNeil led the state in passing with 3,562 yards and 53 touchdown passes. He also earned all-league honors in basketball and baseball.
New Hampshire
Bennett Matthews, Bedford
Football, lacrosse
Matthews earned MaxPreps New Hampshire Player of the Year honors in football after throwing for 1,334 yards and 17 touchdowns. In lacrosse, he is regarded as one of the nation’s top players and is set to continue his career at Duke.
New Jersey
Jayden James, Delbarton (Morristown)
Wrestling
A two-time state champion who went undefeated in each of the past two seasons, James was ranked No. 1 nationally at 165 pounds. He was also considered the nation’s No. 2 pound-for-pound wrestler by Flo Wrestling.
New Mexico
Riley Haussler, Cleveland (Rio Rancho)
Football, wrestling
An all-state defensive lineman for Cleveland, Haussler also dominated on the wrestling mat. He finished the season 32-1 and captured the Class 5A heavyweight state championship.
New York
Camryn Howard, Bellport (Brookhaven)
Wrestling
A two-time state champion, this year at 157 pounds, Howard went 48-0, was ranked No. 2 in the nation by Flo Wrestling, and has a 190-7 career record. A sophomore, Howard has placed at the state meet four times and will compete for Team USA U17 at the World Championships in August.
North Carolina
Dionte Neal, Reidsville
Football, basketball
The MaxPreps North Carolina Player of the Year in basketball, Neal averaged 34.7 points per game and finished his career with 2,739 points. He also starred on the football field, catching 68 passes for 1,352 yards and 18 touchdowns.
North Dakota
Brooks Bakko, Kindred
Football, basketball
The MaxPreps North Dakota Player of the Year in football, Bakko recorded 42 receptions for 757 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 6-foot-6 junior also earned all-state recognition in basketball.
Ohio
Michael Boyle, Bishop Watterson (Columbus)
Football, wrestling
A MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year finalist, Boyle helped lead Bishop Watterson to a 30-0 record and back-to-back state championships while totaling 123 tackles, 57 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He is also among the nation’s elite wrestlers, winning his third consecutive state title at 213 pounds.
Oklahoma
Delijah Matthews, Carl Albert (Midwest City)
Football, basketball
Matthews rushed for 2,033 yards and 44 touchdowns while leading Carl Albert to a state championship. He also earned all-state honorable mention honors in basketball and guided the Titans to a state final appearance.
Oregon
Matthew Hinkle, Cascade (Turner)
Football, wrestling
Named the Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year, Hinkle anchored the defense for Cascade’s state championship football team. He also excelled in wrestling, winning a state title at 215 pounds.
Pennsylvania
Bo Bassett, Bishop McCort (Johnstown)
Wrestling
Ranked as the nation’s No. 1 pound-for-pound wrestler by Flo Wrestling, Bassett completed his high school career without a loss at 170-0. He also became the youngest freestyle wrestling world champion in history in 2021.
Rhode Island
Dante Peno, South Kingstown (Wakefield)
Football, wrestling
A standout running back and all-state linebacker on the football field, Peno also excelled in wrestling. He captured his second consecutive state championship at 215 pounds.
South Carolina
Sequel Patterson, Indian Land (Fort Mill)
Football, basketball, track and field
A four-star defensive back committed to South Carolina, Patterson caught 76 passes for 1,006 yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior season. He also averaged 18.1 points per game in basketball and finished second in the high jump at the state meet with a clearance of 6-8.75.
South Dakota
Brody Schafer, Lincoln (Sioux Falls)
Football, basketball
The MaxPreps South Dakota Player of the Year threw for 3,023 yards and 39 touchdowns while leading Lincoln to another outstanding football season. The junior also earned all-state honors in basketball and helped guide the Patriots to the state final.
Tennessee
Colin Holgerson, McCallie (Chattanooga)
Swimming
At the Junior Nationals in December, Holgerson recorded a time of 44.84 in the U18 100-meter backstroke, the fastest ever in the event by an athlete in that age group. He also won three events at the Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association state championships.
Texas
Dillon Mitchell, King (Houston)
Football, track and field
Only a sophomore, Mitchell has already emerged as one of the nation’s fastest athletes, posting a national-best time of 9.88 seconds in the 100 meters. On the football field, he earned district Newcomer of the Year honors after catching 40 passes for 867 yards and nine touchdowns.
Utah
Jackson Spencer, Herriman (West Herriman)
Cross country, track and field
Spencer went undefeated during the cross country season, winning both Nike Cross Nationals and the Brooks XC Championship while also recording the fastest time ever at the Utah state championships. On the track, he captured the New Balance Nationals Indoor title in the 5,000 meters and broke the four-minute barrier in the mile with a time of 3:58.17.
Vermont
Cooke Riney, Middlebury
Football, basketball, lacrosse
At 6-6, Riney earned all-state honors in football as a tight end and was also recognized as an all-state basketball player. He is also considered one of Vermont’s top lacrosse prospects.
Virginia
Darius Gray, St. Christopher’s (Richmond)
Football, basketball
Gray was a four-time All-VISAA selection on both offense and defense and earned the association’s Defensive Player of the Year award. He also secured all-state basketball honors for the second straight season.
Washington
Wyatt Plyler, Sumner
Football, baseball
Plyler earned MaxPreps Washington Player of the Year honors in baseball after leading Sumner to a state championship. He also contributed as a wide receiver and defensive back on the school’s state championship football team.
West Virginia
Zaden Ranson, Charleston Catholic (Charleston)
Basketball, baseball
A three-time all-state basketball selection, Ransom has also earned multiple all-state honors in baseball. He averaged 15 points per game on the hardwood while batting .423 with 48 RBI on the diamond.
Wisconsin
Brody Schaffer, Winneconne
Football, track and field
Showcased his athletic versatility by throwing for 1,884 yards and rushing for 1,179 more in football while also averaging 20.2 points per game in basketball. In track and field, he finished second in the Division 2 state meet long jump with a leap of 22-9.5.
Wyoming
Beck Haswell, Sheridan
Football, basketball
Earned state POY honors as a defensive lineman while helping Sheridan capture the Class 4A state championship. He is also a two-time all-state basketball selection.
