photo by: Nick Henthorn

Wheeling Central’s Eli Sancomb glides down the lane Monday night against the defense of Tyler Consolidated’s Brody Strode during action inside the Tyler Consolidated Middle School Gymnasium. Sancomb scored 24 points as the Maroon Knights rolled, 84-54.

In its 40th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Eli Sancomb of Central Catholic High School is the 2024-25 Gatorade West Virginia Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Sancomb is the second Gatorade West Virginia Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Central Catholic High School, joining two-time winner Chase Harler, who won back-to-back awards in 2015 and 2016.

At the time of his selection, the 6-foot-4, 185-pound junior guard had led the Maroon Knights (21-2) to a berth in the Class AA state tournament. Sancomb averaged 26 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.6 steals through 23 games and shot 83.9 percent from the free throw line through 23 games. He finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and just one turnover in Central Catholic’s 64-46 win over Ravenswood in the Region 1 final.

Sancomb has volunteered locally as one of the founding members of the St. Vincent de Paul Mattress Movers, a group of six boys who deliver new mattresses to those in need. He’s also donated his time as a “buddy” for athletes with special needs through the YMCA, in addition to participating in the Central Catholic High School canned food drive, picking up donations and delivering bags of food.

“Eli is a do-it-all guy,” said Dave Tallman, head coach at Morgantown High School. “He is 6-foot-4, but brings the ball up the floor. He’s very aggressive and he’s an elite scorer.”

Sancomb has maintained a B average in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the court, in the classroom and in the community. The award distinguishes Sancomb as West Virginia’s best high school boys basketball player and he joins an impressive group of alumni that spans CEOs, coaches and star athletes such as Karl-Anthony Towns (2012-13 & 2013-14, St. Joseph High School, N.J.), Jayson Tatum (2013-14, 2014-15 & 2015-16, Chaminade College Preparatory School, Mo.) and Cooper Flagg (2023-24, Montverde Academy, Fla.).