Wenyen Gabriel '16 is the most decorated Boys' Basketball player in the history of Wilbraham & Monson Academy.
The day before he graduated, to his surprise, he added one more piece of hardware to his collection.
Wenyen was named the winner of the Phil Shaw Award, given annually to the male athlete who exhibits remarkable performance and a great desire to improve in athletics.
"It was an honor," said Wenyen, who received the award May 27 at WMA's Prize Day. "I wasn't thinking about the award. I was always just trying to do my best. But I ended up doing what the award describes just by trying to do my best. I didn't know it was going to come my way."
Plenty of accolades went Wenyen's way during his senior year. While being wooed by the best basketball programs in the country, Wenyen earned a spot on the USA Basketball Junior Select Team, was one of just 21 high school players in the country picked to play in the Jordan Brand Classic and climbed all the way to #15 on ESPN's list of top players in the Class of 2016. He was also selected as a McDonald's McScholar Athlete. He verbally committed to the University of Kentucky during a live broadcast at ESPN.
"It's fitting that Wenyen ends his high school career winning the Phil Shaw Award," Boys' Basketball Coach Mike Mannix said. "The award highlights his personal athletic achievements as well as his fine character. I was very happy for him. He's worked very hard to earn all of the recognition that has come his way. He has left his mark and legacy on the basketball program with his dedication to the game and now he leaves the Academy with a legacy as one of, if not the most accomplished athlete in the Academy's history."
Along with two years of Boys' Basketball, Wenyen was a goalie for Water Polo his junior year before turning himself into a fierce Boys' Volleyball player his senior year.
"I wanted to be competitive at those sports," Wenyen said. "I like the opportunity the school gave me to play those sports.
"It's been a great experience coming to WMA. I was able to get better with the opportunities the school gave me on the court and off the court. The community helped nourish me."