Florence native and Gatorade South Carolina and Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Josh Leonard, awarded Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area with a $1,000 grant to help accomplish our mission to inspire and enable all young people from throughout the Pee Dee Area, especially those who need us most, to become productive, responsible, and caring citizens.
Sports have seen a double-digit decline over the past decade, largely due to tighter budgets in communities, but young people that participate in sports are found to be happier, healthier and better students. As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner.
“The Gatorade Player of the Year award highlights student-athletes who set an example both on and off the field,” said Josh Lytel, Associate Marketing Manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “The grants give these athletes a chance to donate to organizations like, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area, that positively impacts the youth in their own communities.”
“This donation is a testament to our staff and the work we do for one of our Club members to pay it forward like this,” says Neal Zimmerman, executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area.
Good character is just one of the priority outcomes Clubs focus on and meet. 65% of teen Club members reported volunteering in their community within the last year compared to only 25% of U.S. adults who volunteer annually.
Leonard, who made his memories and many friends during summer camp at the Florence Club, said this was a big honor to him. His mother Brittany Leonard said the Club helped give her peace of mind while she was at work knowing Josh was at a safe place.
Names Sports Illustrated South Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Leonard led the Wilson High School Tigers (21-9) to the Class AAAA state tournament semifinals and was named the 2025 AAAA Player of the Year. He shot an impressive 59.1% from inside the arc, 39.2% from three-point range, and maintained a true shooting percentage of 61% this season. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound sophomore averaged 21.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
All 610 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a grant to donate to a social impact partner of their choosing. Each Player of the Year can also submit a video about why their organization is deserving of one of 12 Spotlight Grants, which awards an additional $10,000 to the organization. To date, Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $5.6 million across more than 2,000 organizations.
Gatorade has a longstanding history of serving athlete communities and it’s ambition is to continue doing more to create positive change. Most recently, Gatorade announced its Fuel Tomorrow commitment, a multi-year initiative to provide opportunities for everyone to play sports and realize their potential.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow the conversation on Twitter #GatoradePOY. For more on Gatorade Player of the Year Community Grants, the Gatorade Player of the Year, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit PlayerOfTheYear.Gatorade.com
About Gatorade Player of the Year
Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s most elite high school athletes for their success on and off the playing surface. Gatorade Players of the Year are not only the best in their sports, but they’re also leaders in the classroom and in their communities. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of alumni that includes Peyton Manning, Jayson Tatum, Mallory Swanson and Paige Bueckers.
