Max Clark, left, received Gatorade’s Best Male Player of the Year award from NBA star Jayson Tatum late Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
Submitted photo
Franklin graduate Max Clark added yet another cherry on top of his impossibly sweet summer when he was named Gatorade’s Best Male Player of the Year late Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The award is given to the top male high school athlete in the nation, regardless of sport.
Clark was presented his trophy by Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who won the same honor in 2016.
“Taking home this award is a huge moment in my career,” Clark said. “The list of past winners speaks for itself; there are so many legends who have achieved great things on and off the field, so I’m honored to have my name next to theirs.”
This week has already been a dream come true for Clark, who was chosen by the Detroit Tigers with the third overall pick in Sunday’s Major League Baseball draft. He is expected to sign with the team and begin his minor league career later this month rather than play college baseball (Clark had verbally committed to Vanderbilt).
Gatorade had already presented several awards to Clark. Last month, the company named him the top high school baseball player in Indiana for a third consecutive year as well as the national player of the year.
In his final season at Franklin, Clark batted .646 with (42 for 65) with nine doubles, five triples, six home runs and 35 stolen bases; he was walked 52 times and hit by three pitches for an .808 on-base percentage while scoring 45 runs and driving in 33.
