Centennial's Mccain chosen state's Gatorade POY

Centennial boys basketball standout Jared Mccain has been selected California’s Gatorade Player of the Year.

Mccain, a 6-foot-3 junior shooting guard, averaged 16.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and four assists per game this season. He helped the Huskies win their second straight CIF Southern Section Open Division title, as he scored a game-high 20 points in the championship game against Harvardwestlake.

Mccain also helped Centennial capture its first CIF State championship, scoring 16 points in the Open Division championship game against Modesto Christian.

Mccain, who also is a social media superstar, shot 40.6% from 3-point range and 89.4% at the free-throw line. He maintains a 4.0 GPA in the classroom and has volunteered time at local schools for special needs students.

Centennial (33-1) won its final 30 games of the season and finished No. 2 in the final Maxpreps.com national rankings. It is the highest national ranking for an Inland team since the undefeated 2016 Chino Hills team finished No. 1.

This is the fourth straight season a player from the Inland area has been chosen the state player of the year by Gatorade. Rancho Christian’s Evan Mobley started the run with back-to-back honors in 2019 and 2020. Damien’s Malik Thomas, whose hometown is listed as Fontana, was selected in 2021.

Four additional players who played at Inland schools have been chosen since the honor was first awarded in 1986: Corey

Benjamin of Fontana (1996), Michael Snaer of Rancho Verde (2009), Grant Jerrett of La Verne Lutheran (2012) and Lonzo Ball of Chino Hills (2016).

Mccain also is a finalist for the Gatorade national player of the year honor, which will be announced at a later date.

CALIFORNIA’S GATORADE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

BOYS BASKETBALL 2022: Jared Mccain, Centennial

2021: Malik Thomas, Damien

2020: Evan Mobley, Rancho Christian

2019: Evan Mobley, Rancho Christian

2018: David Singleton, Bishop Montgomery

2017: Marvin Bagley, Sierra Canyon

2016: Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills

2015: Tyler Dorsey, Maranatha

2014: Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei

2013: Roschon Prince, Long Beach Poly

2012: Grant Jerrett, La Verne Lutheran

2011: Ryan Anderson, Long Beach Poly

2010: Allen Crabbe, Price

2009: Michael Snaer, Rancho Verde

2008: Jrue Holiday, Campbell Hall

2007: Jrue Holiday, Campbell Hall

2006: Chase Budinger, La Costa Canyon

2005: Jamal Boykin, Fairfax 2004: Demarcus Nelson, Sheldon

2003: Leon Powe, Oakland Tech

2002: Hassan Adams, Westchester

2001: Josh Childress, Mayfair

2000: Deshawn Stevenson, Washington Union

1999: Jason Kapono, Artesia

1998: Ray Young, St. Joseph/notre Dame

1997: Baron Davis, Crossroads

1996: Corey Benjamin, Fontana

1995: Paul Pierce, Inglewood

1994: Jelani Gardner, St. John Bosco

1993: Charles O’bannon, Artesia

1992: Jason Kidd, St. Joseph Notre Dame

1991: Cherokee Parks, Marina

1990: Ed O’bannon, Artesia

1989: Tracy Murray, Glendora

1988: Chris Mills, Fairfax

1987: Leron Ellis, Mater Dei

1986: Scott Williams, Hacienda Heights Wilson

PHOTO BY ANDY HOLZMAN Centennial’s Jared Mccain has been selected California’s Gatorade Player of the Year.