Emily Engstler Named New York State Gatorade Player of the Year
3/19/2018 3:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Chicago, Ill. – The future is bright for Syracuse's women's basketball program. Alongside bringing back nearly everyone from this season's 22-9 squad including all five starters, incoming freshman Emily Engslter has been named the 2018 Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
"Emily is an elite talent," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "It's a well deserved honor, what more can I say!"
In its 33rd year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, announced Englster (St. Francis Preparatory School (N.Y.)) as its 2017-18 State Player of the Year. She is the first St. Francis Prep girls basketball player to earn the honor as well as the first Syracuse recruit to do so for New York State.
The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Engstler as New York's best high school girls basketball player.
A 6-foot-1 senior at St. Francis Prep, Engstler led the Terriers to a 19-9 record and an appearance in the Brooklyn/Queens Catholic High School Athletic Association championship game. As a senior, she averaged 18.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. She will play in both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic this spring. Engstler is the No. 11 recruit in the Class of 2018 according to espnW and is a finalist for Miss New York Basketball.
A tutor in her school, Engstler has volunteered locally on behalf of Harvest for the World and youth basketball programs. Additionally, she has A-minus average in the classroom.
Next season, 'Cuse will have two former Gatorade State Players of the Year as Ohio State junior transfer Kiara Lewis was the 2015-16 honoree for Illinois.
Engstler joins recent Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Players of the Year Andra Espinoza-Hunter (2016-17, Ossining High School), Dominique Toussaint (2015-16, Christ the King High School), Lauren Brozoski (2014-15, Long Island Lutheran High School), Sierra Calhoun (2013-14 & 2012-13, Christ the King High School), Breanna Stewart (2011-12 & 2010-11, Cicero-North Syracuse High School), Bria Hartley (2009-10 & 2008-09, North Babylon High School), Samantha Prahalis (2007-08, Commack High School), and Lorin Dixon (2006–07, Christ the King High School) among the state's list of former award winners.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction 12 high school sports and awards one National Player of the Year in each of them. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which works with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Emily will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. Twelve spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
"Emily is an elite talent," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "It's a well deserved honor, what more can I say!"
In its 33rd year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, announced Englster (St. Francis Preparatory School (N.Y.)) as its 2017-18 State Player of the Year. She is the first St. Francis Prep girls basketball player to earn the honor as well as the first Syracuse recruit to do so for New York State.
The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Engstler as New York's best high school girls basketball player.
A 6-foot-1 senior at St. Francis Prep, Engstler led the Terriers to a 19-9 record and an appearance in the Brooklyn/Queens Catholic High School Athletic Association championship game. As a senior, she averaged 18.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. She will play in both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic this spring. Engstler is the No. 11 recruit in the Class of 2018 according to espnW and is a finalist for Miss New York Basketball.
A tutor in her school, Engstler has volunteered locally on behalf of Harvest for the World and youth basketball programs. Additionally, she has A-minus average in the classroom.
Next season, 'Cuse will have two former Gatorade State Players of the Year as Ohio State junior transfer Kiara Lewis was the 2015-16 honoree for Illinois.
Engstler joins recent Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Players of the Year Andra Espinoza-Hunter (2016-17, Ossining High School), Dominique Toussaint (2015-16, Christ the King High School), Lauren Brozoski (2014-15, Long Island Lutheran High School), Sierra Calhoun (2013-14 & 2012-13, Christ the King High School), Breanna Stewart (2011-12 & 2010-11, Cicero-North Syracuse High School), Bria Hartley (2009-10 & 2008-09, North Babylon High School), Samantha Prahalis (2007-08, Commack High School), and Lorin Dixon (2006–07, Christ the King High School) among the state's list of former award winners.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction 12 high school sports and awards one National Player of the Year in each of them. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which works with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Emily will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. Twelve spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
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