Cheverus’ Maddie Fitzpatrick was named Wednesday as the school’s first-ever recipient of the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year Award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court.

Fitzpatrick, a junior, who led the Stags to their first Class AA state title as a sophomore, then helped then reach the regional final this winter, where they lost in double-overtime to eventual champion Oxford Hills, averaged 17.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Fitzpatrick is rated the No. 13 prospect in New England’s Class of 2024 by PrepGirlsHoops.com.

Fitzpatrick is also a member of her school’s Key Club, a student-led community service organization, and has donated her time to Best Buddies International by supporting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is a member of the National Honor Society and serves on the Cheverus President’s Advisory Club. Fitzpatrick has maintained a 3.99 GPA in the classroom and has verbally committed to continuing her basketball career at the University of Maine.

“(Maddie’s) completely unselfish,” said Deering High School coach Mike Murphy, in a press release. “Her numbers are staggering when it comes down to it. She looks to pass first and score later. If she really wanted to, she could score 30 points a game. She’s six feet, handles like a point guard and can shoot. She controls the game.”