Another day, another high-profile award for Manteca native Chelsea Gray.

The St. Mary’s High (Stockton) guard and Duke-bound senior was named the Gatorade California Girls Basketball Player of the Year Thursday. Gatorade, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, will announce the winner of the National Player of the Year distinction later this month.

Such accolades are nothing new to Gray, who averages 16.1 points, 6.3 assists, 5.3 steals and 4.1 rebounds.

She is also a finalist for the Naismith High School Player of the Year and Morgan Wootten Player of the Year awards and was selected to play in the prestigious McDonald’s and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-American games.  

Gray joins a heralded list of past California high school girls basketball stars who now star in the WNBA, such as Diana Taurasi (1999-2000).
Academic and community-based achievements are also considered when selecting awardees, and Gray holds a 4.0 GPA.

St. Mary’s (31-1), ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, will compete in the Northern California Regional Championships semifinals Saturday in its quest for a second straight Division-III state title.