THE WINNER: Tres Tinkle

THE BASICS

School: Hellgate (Missoula, Mont.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Guard/forward
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 215 pounds

Athletic achievement: He averaged 24.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists this past season, leading the Knights (22-2) to third place in the Class AA state tournament. The state’s returning Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Tinkle shot 58.5 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from 3-point range and 76.1 percent from the free-throw line. He also contributed 2.1 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. Earning All-Tournament honors in each of his final three prep seasons, Tinkle led Hellgate to the 2013 Class AA state championship as a sophomore and the 2014 Class AA state title game as a junior. He concluded his prep career with a school-record 1,544 points.

Academic excellence: Tinkle has maintained an A average.

Exemplary character: A member of the National Honor Society and his school’s Link Crew leadership program, he has volunteered at the Missoula Food Bank and as a youth basketball instructor.

THE PRAISE

“It’s clear he has put the work in to become the most versatile player Montana has seen in years,” said Guy Almquist, head coach of rival Capital High. “He combines an obviously high skill level with a championship-level demeanor. It’s rare to see someone so talented easily fit into the framework of team basketball, which he has done his entire career.”

THE FUTURE: Tinkle has signed with Oregon State, where his father Wayne Tinkle is head coach of the men’s basketball program.