CHICAGO (March 15, 2023) — In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today
announced Dougie Peoples of Butte Central Catholic High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Montana Boys
Basketball Player of the Year. Peoples is the first Gatorade Montana Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be
chosen from Butte Central Catholic 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 Peoples as Montana’s
best high school boys basketball player. Peoples joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12
sports, including Chet Holmgren (2020-21, Minnehaha Academy, Minn.), Trae Young (2016-17, Norman North
High School, Ok.). Jayson Tatum (2015-16, Chaminade College Preparatory School, Mo.), and Karl-Anthony
Towns (2013-14 & 2012-13, St. Joseph High School, N.J.).
At the time of his selection, the 6-foot-5, 165-pound senior guard had led the Maroons (23-2) to the Montana Class
A state semifinals, averaging 24.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game through 27 contests.
Peoples broke the Butte city record for single-season points scored (1,404). He also owns Butte Central Catholic’s
single-game record for points scored in a game (44).
Peoples has volunteered locally with the Special Olympics and on behalf of his church parish. He also serves as
Butte Central Catholic’s student body president and is a member of the National Honor Society. “He is one of the
most unique players I’ve seen over the last few years,” said Hamilton head coach Travis Blome. “He can score in a
variety of ways and has been the hardest person to defend in my coaching tenure.”
Peoples has maintained an A average in the classroom. He remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.
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 Player of the Year Selection
Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and
determine the state winners in each sport.
Peoples joins recent Gatorade Montana Boys Basketball Players of the Year Brayden Koch (2021-22, Capital High
School), Drew Wyman (2020-21, Great Falls High School), and Rollie Worster (2019-20 & 2018-19, Hellgate High
School), among the state’s list of former award winners.
Being a Gatorade Player of the Year means paying it forward for the next generation. Through Gatorade’s Play it
Forward initiative, every Player of the Year receives a grant to give to one of Gatorade’s social impact partners,
supporting Gatorade’s ambition to fuel the future of sport. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have
totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.
For nearly 40 years, Gatorade has honored high school athletes at the top of their game as teammates, supporting
their communities and achieving academic success. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes and community
leaders, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport.