The 12 high school athletes who won Illinois player of the year awards from Gatorade

Gatorade honored the top high school athletes in Illinois throughout the 2024-25 season, capped in June with the naming of the spring players of the year.

Gatorade uses a selection committee, which "leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport," according to a release.

Here are the 12 Gatorade high school players of the year in Illinois, selected "for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community."

Dierre Hill, Belleville Althoff football

• Why he was picked: The 6-foot, 183-pound senior running back and defensive back is a two-time GPOY pick for Illinois. He rushed for 2,588 yards and 40 touchdowns, leading the Crusaders to an unbeaten IHSA Class 1A championship. The all-stater added six receiving TDs and two kick return TDs.
• What's next: The senior is headed to the University of Oregon.

Abby VanderWal, Elmhurst IC Catholic volleyball

• Why she was picked: The 6-foot-3 senior outside hitter led the Trojans to 39-3 and the IHSA Class 2A state semifinals. She had 455 kills and 220 digs to go with 73 aces, 30 blocks with a .584 kill percentage and a .501 hitting percentage. The first-team all-American is ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2025 by PrepDig.com.
• What's next: She will play volleyball this fall at the University of Texas.

Mia Sirois, Barrington cross country

• Why she was picked: The 5-foot-5 sophomore won the IHSA Class 3A state title with a season-best time of 15:53.4 over 3 miles, helping the Broncos to the team title. She was sixth at the Nike Cross Nationals to earn all-America status.
• What's next: Sirois will return to defend her state title at Barrington this fall.

Ben Crane, Winnetka New Trier cross country

• Why he was picked: The 5-foot-10, 145-pound senior won the Class 3A state championships with a personal-best time of 14:03.4 — 8.4 seconds better than the runner-up. He was season-team all-America at both the Foot Locker championships and the national NXN Final.
• What's next: Crane will run this fall at Brigham Young University.

Destiny Jackson, Chicago Whitney Young girls basketball

• Why she was picked: The 5-foot-6 senior guard led the Dolphins to 25-9 and the Class 4A sectional championship game. The three-time all-stater and Illinois Ms. Basketball averaged 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals. The No. 31-ranked composite recruit also earned a nomination for the McDonalds's All-American Game.
• What's next: Jackson will play this winter for the University of Illinois.

Jaxson Davis, Gurnee Warren boys basketball

• Why he was picked: The 6-foot-1, 180-pound sophomore guard averaged 19.4 points and 6.0 assists, leading the Blue Devils (26-11) to the Class 4A championship game. Davis, also Illinois Mr. Basketball, is the nation's No. 66 recruit in the Class of 2027.
• What's next: Davis will return for his junior season at Warren.

Callie Tumilty, Naperville Central girls soccer

• Why she was picked: The 5-foot-9 senior forward led the Redhawks (20-2-1) to conference and Class 3A regional championships. She had 23 goals and 15 assists on the way to being named Illinois coaches' player of the year and all-America status from United Soccer Coaches.
• What's next: Tumilty will play soccer this fall at Ohio State University.

Jaxon Stokes, Naperville North boys soccer

• Why he was picked: The 5-foot-10, 155-pound senior forward led the Huskies to a 20-2-1 record and a conference championship. He scored 19 goals and added six assists on the way to being named Illinois coaches' player of the year and all-America status from United Soccer Coaches.
• What's next: Stokes is signed to play this fall at Belmont University.

Jaden Fauske, LaGrange Park Nazareth baseball

• Why he was picked: The 6-foot-2 senior outfielder and catcher led the Roadrunners (28-6). He batted .461 with six home runs, 36 RBIs, 31 runs and 29 stolen bases. He is the nation's No. 13 high school prospect in the Class of 2025 by PrepBaseballReport.
• What's next: The LSU commit is expected to be selected in the first round of the MLB first-year player draft.

Bella Dimitrijevic, New Lenox Lincoln-Way Central softball

• Why she was picked: The 5-foot-10 senior right-handed pitcher is a two-time GPOY for the 34-2 Knights, who lost in the Class 4A sectional finals. She went 23-1 with a 0.47 ERA, allowing 55 hits and 29 walks and striking out 349 in 164.2 innings. She hit .318 with eight doubles, seven home runs and 34 RBIs.
• What's next: She is headed to play softball at Florida State University.

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Dominique Johnson, Huntley girls track and field

• Why she was picked: The 5-foot-6 senior won IHSA Class 3A state championships in the long jump and triple jump. The five-time state champ leaped 42 feet, 8.75 inches in the triple — a meet record and national best in 2025. Her 19-2.75 in the long is No. 80 nationally.
• What's next: Johnson will compete this upcoming season at the University of Miami.

Isaiah Whitaker, Bloomington Central Catholic boys track and field

• Why he was picked: The 6-foot-2, 170-pound pole vault specialist set an all-class record of 17 feet, 6.5 inches to win the Class 1A state championship. His season-best mark of 17-10.5, set in Metamora, was No. 2 this season nationally.
• What's next: Whitaker will return to high school this fall at BCC.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois players of the year: Gatorade picks top high school athletes for 2024-25