Ransford Gyan of St. Benedict’s named Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of Year

After being named the Gatorade New Jersey Boys Soccer Player of the Year for the second year in a row on June 16, Ransford Gyan has a new title to add to his resume.

Gyan, who will be a senior at St. Benedict’s in the fall, was named the 2022-23 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year on Thursday.

“My coach called me today and he had invited some of my teammates and I walked into the room and I saw my mom on a video call so I was excited and I knew something was going to happen,” said Gyan, who is from Ghana. “I saw a trophy and I was just happy, I was just overwhelmed. I didn’t really expect this, I’m so excited.”

Last season Gyan helped St. Benedict’s go 17-0 and win the Prep A Tournament title, which was the 33rd title in school history. The victory was also the 87th in a row for the Gray Bees, which are not sanctioned by the NJSIAA.

Gyan finished with 20 goals and 14 assists as St. Benedict’s was named the No. 1 school in the country in the United Soccer Coaches Super 25 poll. He also won the Golden Boot at the United States Youth Soccer Association’s 2022 Under-18 National Championships with his club team, Cedar Stars Academy.

He is a two-time First Team All-New Jersey Prep honoree, and is ranked No. 12 in the nation as a recruit in the Class of 2024 by PrepSoccer.com.

“Ransford Gyan was the most impactful and most valuable player in boys high school soccer during the 2022-23 season,” said J.R. Eskilson, National Analyst for PrepSocccer.com in a press release. “With a dynamic burst and an unreal ability to keep the ball glued to his feet even while surrounded by defenders, he proved nearly uncontainable in leading his team to a perfect season. His humility enabled him to take his game to another level as a junior. A brilliant attacking talent, he’s already staked a claim as one of the most dangerous offensive players in high school soccer in recent memory.”

Gyan joins an elite list of players who have been named National Player of the Year, including St. Benedict’s alum Claudio Reyna, who earned the distinction in 1990-91. Reyna went on to a professional soccer career that included stints with Manchester City and the New York Red Bulls.

“It means a whole lot to me, I’m just blessed and honored,” Gyan said. “I’m just happy to see my name (with the previous winners), it means a lot to me. Some of them, like Claudio Reyna, seeing my name next to him means a whole lot to me. It just tells me I should keep going and putting in the work.”