Local McDonald's owner John Hurd (right) presented Miller Grove's Alterique Gilbert with his McDonald's All-American jersey and cap. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Local McDonald’s owner John Hurd (right) presented Miller Grove’s Alterique Gilbert with his McDonald’s All-American jersey and cap. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Gatorade and the Atlanta Tipoff Club added to Alterique Gilbert’s 2016 postseason collection of awards with announcements recently.

Gilbert was named the Gatorade Boys” Basketball Player of the Year for Georgia and the Atlanta Tipoff Club named him Mr. Georgia Basketball after he led his Miller Grove Wolverines’ to the Class 5A state title with a 50-48 win over previously undefeated Allatoona a couple of weeks ago.

“I’m extremely proud as a coach to see a young man who worked as hard to achieve his goals and see his dreams come true as Alterique,” said Gilbert’s coach at Miller Grove Sharman White. “He has the type of personality to continue working and never be satisfied no matter the accolades he receives.”

The Gatorade Player of the Year Award was the second for Miller Grove (Tony Parker, 2012) and Gilbert was the third boys’ winner and fifth player overall from DeKalb County to win the award.

Cedar Grove’s Dion Glover (1997 state championship team) won the award in 1997 while on the girls’ side Avondale’s Sherbiya Morris won the award two consecutive years (1991-92) and holds the DeKalb girls’ season scoring average record of 31.6 points in 1991. Southwest DeKalb’s Kayla Lewis won the award in 2010 after helping the Lady Panthers to three consecutive Class 4A state titles (200-2010).

Gilbert is also the third DCSD boys’ basketball player to be named Mr. Georgia Basketball by the Atlanta Tipoff Club joining former Miller Grove player Tony Parker (2012) and Cedar Grove’s Dion Glover (1997) on another prestigious list. Southwest DeKalb’s Kayla Lewis (2010) was the only girl from DCSD to receive the award.

Averaging 20.1 points per game this season, Gilbert moved into an exclusive club of one for DeKalb County as the first to score 2,000 points (2096), grab 500 rebounds (602), 500 steals (551) and 500 assists (712) in a career. His career steals (551) and assists (712) are both Miller Grove school records and the 2,096 points trails only former Miller Grove Hall of Fame standout Mfon Udofia (2,419).

Miller Grove's Alterique Gilbert drives against Allatoona in the Wolverine's 50-48 state championship victory. (Photo by Janette Brock)

Miller Grove’s Alterique Gilbert drives against Allatoona in the Wolverine’s 50-48 state championship victory. (Photo by Janette Brock)

These two awards join Gilbert’s selection as McDonald’s Parade All-American, Jordan Brand All-American, Class 5A All-State, Region 6-5A Player of the Year and DeKalb County Tipoff Club’s Player of the Year and Scholar Athlete Awards.

Gilbert also works hard in the classroom and in the community sporting a 3.67 GPA and volunteering locally with the Special Olympics, an area homeless shelter and as a mentor for children with incarcerated parents.

“Alterique works hard in everything he does and is an excellent student as well as an athlete,” said White. “He is a great ambassador for our school and county in all he does.”

Gilbert and his Wolverine teammates take off on Wednesday, March 30 for New York to take part in the Dick’s Nationals with bringing back a national championship. The No. 6 seeded Wolverines (30-2) open play against three-time Nationals champion and No. 3 seeded 28-1 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nevada) at 6:00 pm on Thursday, March 31 at Christ the King High School in New York in a game set to be televised on ESPNU.

The Wolverine senior point guard will not be far from his future home at the University of Connecticut where he signed to continue his education and playing career.