New Jersey’s Ransford Gyan named 2022-23 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year

NEWARK, N.J. – In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, Gatorade announced that Ransford Gyan of St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, N.J. is the 2022-23 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

Gyan won the prestigious award for his accomplishments on and off the field, joining an impressive group of former Gatorade National Boys Soccer Players of the Year who have combined for more than 12 National Championships and 13 MLS first round draft picks.

Gyan was surprised with the trophy by his coaches and teammates at school. Check out a video of the announcement here.

The Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes athletes not just for their excellence on the playing surface, but for their commitment in the classroom and impact in their community. Gyan beat out nearly half a million other student-athletes who play boys soccer nationwide, topping the list of state winners in boys soccer who collectively boast an incredible list of accomplishments, including 27 with signed National Letters of Intent to play boys soccer at Division I colleges/universities and 37 with a GPA of 3.5 and above.

“Ransford Gyan was the most impactful and most valuable player in boys high school soccer during the 2022-23 season,” said J.R. Eskilson, National Analyst for PrepSocccer.com. “With a dynamic burst and an unreal ability to keep the ball glued to his feet even while surrounded by defenders, he proved nearly uncontainable in leading his team to a perfect season. His humility enabled him to take his game to another level as a junior. A brilliant attacking talent, he’s already staked a claim as one of the most dangerous offensive players in high school soccer in recent memory.”

The state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, the 5-foot-4, 135-pound junior midfielder led the Gray Bees to a 17-0 record and the Non-Public Prep A Tournament state championship this past season. Gyan scored 20 goals and passed for 14 assists, recording at least one point in 16 of St. Benedict’s 17 games to lead the Gray Bees to the country’s No. 1 ranking United Soccer Coaches Super 25 poll. Gyan won the Golden Boot at the United States Youth Soccer Association’s 2022 Under-18 National Championships as his club team, Cedar Stars Academy, captured the national title. A two-time First Team All-New Jersey Prep honoree, he’s ranked as the nation’s No. 12 recruit in the Class of 2024 by PrepSoccer.com.

Gyan has volunteered locally at a food pantry, and he has donated his time as a youth soccer coach and camp counselor. “Ransford is a special player who plays for an outstanding team,” said Chad Bridges, head coach of the Pennington School. “He can change the game in the blink of any eye with a play that forces you to rewatch the film to find out how he did it. Even when you think you have the game under control, Ransford can instantly change the game.”

Gyan has maintained a 3.64 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

In addition to excellence on and off the field of play, Gatorade Players of the Year also pay it forward for the next generation. As part of Gatorade’s Play it Forward initiative, Gyan will receive a grant to give to a 501c3 youth sports charity, which includes Gatorade’s social impact partners – Athlete Ally, Laureus USA, Move United, Women’s Sports Foundation and Up2Us Sports – supporting Gatorade’s ambition to fuel the future of sport.

“As a team dedicated to fueling the future of sport, we’re proud to recognize the next generation of elite talent that is making an incredible impact on and off the field of play,” said Gatorade Portfolio president and general manager Michael Del Pozzo. “Ransford is an undisputed leader both in competition and in his community, which is why he earned the Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award.”

Each year, a selection committee evaluates the nation’s top talent to choose one state winner from each of the 50 states as well as Washington D.C., in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track & field. In all, 608 athletes are honored each year. From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports.