Lexington basketball player is 2023 boys Gatorade Player of the Year

Lexington High School junior Cam Scott has won South Carolina’s most distinguished high school basketball honor, the 2022-23 Gatorade Player of the Year award. 

Gatorade gives the award to a top player in each state every year based on “athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character,” according to its website.

Previous South Carolina winners include Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Gamecocks forward GG Jackson. 

“It sets a high standard for myself,” said Scott of joining the elite group. “Even the recent stars, PJ Hall, GG (Jackson), Bryce (McGowens), … They have come in, left their legacy in South Carolina and gone on to do bigger and greater things.”

Scott, a four-star recruit, according to high school sports website 247Sports, averaged more than 19 points and 6 rebounds per game.

“He’s done a fantastic job over the four years he’s been here of learning how to let the game come to him and take whatever the game allows,” head coach Elliot Pope said.

Pope said Scott has succeeded in ways that are rare for high school players.

“There’s a lot of guys who are supremely athletic but maybe aren’t the tallest,” Pope said. “And there’s an abundance of guys who are bigger but maybe lack a little bit of athleticism. So when you look at the complete package of what (Scott) can bring, he’s just one of those guys that don’t come too often.”

Scott helped Lexington to a 20-7 overall record this past season. The Wildcats went undefeated in their region before losing in the playoff semi-finals to Spartanburg’s Dorman High School.

But the on-court success doesn’t come without a strong work ethic from Scott.

“Coming in and not only working out four or five times a day but getting quality reps in and quality action,” Scott said.

Scott has volunteered with the foster care nonprofit, Bair Foundation, as well as donating time at Special Olympics Day at Lexington High.

“The academic and social aspects of it, just having a good foundation, good people around me, that’s carried a lot into my success and fortunately winning this award,” Scott said.

Colleges have taken notice of his talent and character. Scott has received scholarship offers from Kansas, Auburn, South Carolina universities as well as many others.

“A lot of schools contact me, and a lot of people say that they want me,” Scott said. “But at the end of the day, it’s my choice and I have to pick out where I feel comfortable, where I can grow the best and where my family feels safe having me.”

Scott went to Pleasant Hill Middle School, which feeds into Lexington High. 

“Cam at a young age embraced the idea that he was going to be a good basketball player and that he was going to have these natural intangibles that other people didn’t possess,” Pope said.

Those early achievements brought more attention to Lexington athletics.

“(He’s) been able to elevate the team and Lexington High School Basketball brand,” Lexington athletic director Dustin Curtis said. “(He’s) been a lot of fun to follow and brings a lot of excitement to our student body.”