Newman’s Chris Lockett named Gatorade Louisiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year

CHICAGO — In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Chris Lockett of Isidore Newman School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Louisiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Lockett is the second Gatorade Louisiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Isidore Newman School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Lockett as Louisiana’s best high school boys basketball player. Lockett joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Chet Holmgren (2020-21, Minnehaha Academy, Minn.), Trae Young (2016-17, Norman North High School, Ok.), Jayson Tatum (2015-16, Chaminade College Preparatory School, Mo.), and Karl-Anthony Towns (2013-14 & 2012-13, St. Joseph High School, N.J.).

At the time of his selection, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior guard had led the Greenies to a 31-6 record and a berth in the Division III Select Tournament championship game. Lockett, who led Newman to the state title as a junior, averaged 16.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals through 37 games this season. The 2022 Class 2A Player of the Year, he is a two-time First Team All-State selection.

Lockett has volunteered locally with Soul NOLA, a reforestation plan for the city, and he has donated his time with Breakthrough New Orleans, an academic enrichment program for under-resourced students. “Chris has been consistent all year for us and was playing his very best heading into the stretch run,” said Randy Livingston, head coach of Isidore Newman High and the 1992-93 Gatorade Boys Basketball National Player of the Year. “His impact is as high as ever.”

Lockett has maintained a B average in the classroom as an upperclassman. He has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at Boise State University this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.

Lockett joins recent Gatorade Louisiana Boys Basketball Players of the Year Solomon Washington (2021-22, George Washington Carver Collegiate Academy), Carlos Stewart (2020-21, Dunham School), Reece Beekman (2019-20, Scotlandville Magnet High School), and Jalen Cook (2018-19, Walker High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.

Being a Gatorade Player of the Year means paying it forward for the next generation. Through Gatorade’s Play it Forward initiative, every Player of the Year receives a grant to give to one of Gatorade’s social impact partners, supporting Gatorade’s ambition to fuel the future of sport. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.

For nearly 40 years, Gatorade has honored high school athletes at the top of their game as teammates, supporting their communities and achieving academic success. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes and community leaders, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow us on social media on Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY, Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade and Twitter at twitter.com/Gatorade.