The NCHSAA Athlete of the Year award is the highest athletic honor any student-athlete in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association can receive. Since its inception in 1986, this award has been bestowed upon some of the most exceptional NCHSAA athletes in the state.

A committee consisting of sportswriters, sports broadcasters from the state, and a panel of NCHSAA staff members selects the winner each spring from nominations received from member schools and media representatives. Nominations are accepted from any NCHSAA member school or media representative throughout North Carolina, and the submission deadline is May 17, 2024.

Each member school is eligible to nominate one male and one female from their varsity athletic teams for the year. Over the years, many winners of this award have gone on to achieve great success in collegiate athletics, while others, including Patrick Lennon in professional baseball, Chester McGlockton in the National Football League, and Andrea Stinson in the WNBA, have made their mark in professional sports.

During the 2021-22 school year, Claire Curzan made history by becoming the first NCHSAA student-athlete to participate in the Olympics during her high school career. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, she was awarded the NCHSAA Female Athlete of the Year.

During the 2023-24 school year, Kendre Harrison of Reidsville High School became the first NCHSAA underclassman (Sophomore) to win the NCHSAA Athlete of the Year Award. That year Kendre was also award the MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year.

The winners of this award receive the prestigious Pat Best Memorial Trophy, named in honor of the late Pat Best. Pat, the former Goldsboro High School principal and NCHSAA president, passed away in 1988. The Pat Best Memorial Trophy serves as a lasting tribute to his legacy and unwavering commitment to high school athletics.

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Female	Male
Pam Doggett, Dudley 1985-86	Patrick Lennon, Whiteville 1985-86
Andrea Stinson, North Mecklenburg 1986-87	Robert Siler, Jordan-Matthews 1986-87
LeAnn Kennedy, Trinity 1987-88	Chester McGlockton, Whiteville 1987-88
Danyel Parker, Clinton 1988-89	Ethan Albright, Grimsley 1988-89
Karen Davis, Forbush 1989-90	David Inman, Terry Sanford 1989-90
Christy Cagel, Hayesville 1990-91	Mike Kendall, Albemarle 1990-91
Wendy Palmer, Person County 1991-92	Rusty LaRue, Northwest Guilford 1991-92
Holly Hill, Southwestern Randolph 1992-93	Tyrone Westmoreland, South Iredell 1992-93
Jamie Parsons, Millbrook 1993-94	Brian Roseboro, T.W Andrews 1993-94
Aedrin Murray, Chatham Central 1994-95	Na Brown, Reidsville 1994-95
Shea Ralph, Terry Sanford 1995-96	Titcus Pettigrew, West Forsyth 1995-96
Jackie Houston, Kings Mountain 1996-97	Tyrell Godwin, East Bladen 1996-97
Clifeteana McKiver, East Duplin 1997-98	Julius Peppers, Southern Nash 1997-98
Anna Tharrington, Southern Nash 1998-99	Nick Maddox, A.L. Brown 1998-99
Courtney Willis, Terry Sanford 1999-00	Manny DeShauteurs, Brevard 1999-00
Molly Pyles, Hendersonville 2000-01	Derrele Mitchell, R. J. Reynolds 2000-01
Katrelle Armwood, Durham School of Arts 2001-02	AJ Davis. Northern Davis 2001-02
Anna Evans, Lumberton 2002-03	Drew Williamson, Cummings 2002-03
Eva Baucom, Forest Hills, 2003-04	Jim Ollis, Polk County 2003-04
Jessie Sims, West Henderson, 2004-05	Terrell Hudgins, Rocky Mount 2004-05
Megan Zullo, Farmville Central 2005-06	Kendric Burney, Southwest Onslow 2005-06
Gabby Mayo, Southeast Raleigh 2006-07	Dee Bost, Concord 2006-07
Janetta Robinson, Pender 2007-08	E.J. Abrams-Ward, Thomasville 2007-08
Ali Ford, Freedom 2008-09	Tyler Shatley, East Burke 2008-09
Leah Mackley, Pender 2009-10	Kareem Martin, Roanoke Rapids 2009-10
Courtney Melvin, East Bladen 2010-11	Romar Morris, Salisbury 2010-11
Lindsay Page Simpson, Franklin, 2011-12	Tevin Hester, Granville Central 2011-12
Hailey Cook, Hendersonville 2012-13	T.J. Logan, Northern Guilford 2012-13
Blake Dodge, West Carteret 2013-14	Marquavious Johnson, Knightdale 2013-14
Tainasha Vines, Bunn, 2014-15	Chazz Surratt, East Lincoln 2014-15
Hailey Shope, Hiwassee Dam, 2015-16	Nick Coe, Asheboro 2015-16
Mikayla Boykin, Clinton, 2016-17	Sage Surratt, Lincolnton 2016-17
Hannah Jennings, Madison, 2017-18	Beau Studbaker, East Carteret 2017-18
Chesney Cooper Gardner, Owen, 2018-19	Jalen Brooks, Cardinal Gibbons 2018-19
Morgan Smalls, Panther Creek, 2019-20	Jefferson Boaz, East Surry 2019-20
Sarah Pullium, Murphy, 2020-21	Breon Pass, Reidsville, 2020-21
Claire Curzan, Cardinal Gibbons, 2021-22	Davis Molnar, Terry Sanford, 2021-22
Ally Hollifield, Shelby, 2022-23	Folger Boaz, East Surry, 2022-23
Emma Clark, West Rowan, 2023-24	Kendre Harrison, Reidsville, 2023-24