South Pointe’s Derion Kendrick wins prestigious Gatorade award

The Gatorade Company announced South Pointe’s Derion Kendrick as its South Carolina Football Player of the Year Monday morning.

Kendrick led the Stallions to a 15-0 record and a fourth straight state championship this season. The senior QB threw for close to 2,700 yards and 30 touchdowns and ran for 1,195 yards and 19 more TDs. The Clemson-bound standout finished his prep career with 6,134 passing yards, 1,919 rushing yards and 98 total touchdowns.

Lancaster coach Bobby Collins, who saw more of Kendrick than he wanted to the last four years, said in the press release, “Bottom line, Derion Kendrick is the best player in the state of South Carolina. What makes him dangerous is that he loves to compete. He’s the key to their success.”

Kendrick, who is practicing with the South Carolina Shrine Bowl squad this week, is South Pointe’s first Gatorade player of the year. Northwestern’s Justin Worley won the award in 2010. He’ll be splitting QB reps with Fort Dorchester’s Dakereon Joyner, who won the state’s Mr. Football award last weekend and is a South Carolina Gamecocks signee.

Kendrick is also a finalist for the MaxPreps National Player of the Year and the U.S. Army Player of the Year awards. The U.S. Army award will be announced on Jan. 5, the day before the game is played in San Antonio. Kendrick, South Pointe’s B.T. Potter, Lewisville’s Josh Belk and Nation Ford’s Skyler DeLong will all compete in that game.

This story was originally published December 11, 2017 at 9:14 AM with the headline "South Pointe’s Derion Kendrick wins prestigious Gatorade award."