Robbi Ryan Repeats As WY Gatorade Girls Basketball Player Of The Year

In its 31st year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, announced Robbi Ryan of Sheridan High School as its 2015-16 Gatorade Wyoming Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Ryan is the first Gatorade Wyoming Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Sheridan High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Ryan as Wyoming’s best high school girls basketball player.

Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award announced in March, Ryan joins an elite alumni association of past state girls basketball award-winners, including Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Diana Taurasi (1998-99 & 1999-00, Don Antonio Lugo HS, Calif.), Maya Moore (2005-06 Collins Hill HS, Ga.), Rashanda McCants (2004-05, Asheville HS, N.C.), Shyra Ely (1999-00, Ben Davis HS, Ind.) and Lisa Leslie (1988-89, Morningside HS, Calif.).

The 5-foot-9 senior guard has led the Lady Broncs to a 12-9 record and a berth in the Class 4A state tournament, scheduled to begin March 10.

Ryan averaged 22.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 57 percent from inside the arc through 21 games.

The state’s returning Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year, she is a four-time First Team All-State selection and the 2015 Class 4A East Conference Co-Player of the Year.

Ryan has maintained a 3.89 GPA in the classroom.

A member of the National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, she has volunteered locally on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, the YMCA and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

“Robbi Ryan is a phenomenal athlete who continually works on getting better,” said Sheridan High head coach Jessica Pickett. “She is the type of player who makes those around her better. She is passionate, hard-working, committed and a joy to coach.”

Ryan has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at Arizona State University this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport.

The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Two-time winner Ryan joins Gatorade Wyoming Girls Basketball Players of the Kaylee Johnson (2013-14, 2012-13 & 2011-12, Natrona County High School), Jordan Kelley (2010-11, 2009-10 & 2008-09, Campbell County High School), Kristen Scheffler (2007-08, Lovell High School), and Hillary Carlson (2006–07, Cheyenne Central High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.