SBLive's Texas Male High School Athlete of the Year: Meet the 2022-23 finalists

The 2022-23 high school year is in the books and before we turn the page to next year, SBLive is taking a look back at some of the top athletes of the season in Texas — regardless of sport.

We started by taking a look at the best female high school athletes in the Lone Star State. Now, we're moving to the finalists for SBLive's Texas Female Athlete of the Year.

This list is in alphabetical order. To make a case for an omission, let us know by emailing andy@scorebooklive.com or tagging us on Twitter or Instagram @SBLiveTx and stating your case.

Meet 15 finalists in 2022-23

Jackson Arnold, Sr., Denton Guyer (football)

SBLive's All-North Texas MVP and Oklahoma signee had 3,383 passing yards and 33 touchdowns on 228-of-331 passing, 855 rushing yards on 153 carries for 23 touchdowns in 15 games.

Johntay Cook II, Sr., DeSoto (football)

Texas-signed wide receiver logged 86 catches for 1,534 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in 16 games for 14-2 DeSoto, helping the Eagles beat nationally ranked Guyer in the UIL Class 6A Division II state semifinals.

Seth Davis, Sr., Katy (football)

Most prolific rusher in the state. Mississippi State commit left Katy as the program's all-time leading rusher (6,691 yards) after logging his second consecutive 2,000-yard season. Helped Katy reach the Class 6A Division II state semis.

Ethan Farris, Sr., Cypress Woods (baseball)

The Texas State commit and all-Great Houston hitter of the year was tremendous at the plate, posting a .477 batting average, .532 on base percentage, 61 hits and 47 RBI and seven home runs on the season as Cy Woods' cleanup hitter, helping the Wildcats sweep their District 16-6A Region II slate and reach the state tournament before losing to Flower Mound in the semifinals. 

Angelo Ferrari, Jr., Melissa (wrestling)

Iowa signee was one of SBLive's National High School Wrestlers of the Year. He defeated current Oklahoma State wrestler Jordan Williams, a three-time state champion, in last year’s Class 6A Oklahoma 160-pound state finals, then moved to Texas and won a UIL 5A state title at 175 pounds for Melissa. He is a two-time Walsh Ironman champion, one of the best defensive wrestlers in the country and FloWrestling's No. 1 prospect in the class of 2024.

Ron Holland, Sr., Duncanville (boys basketball)

All year, SBLive's National Boys Basketball Player of the Year was, simply put, spectacular. As Duncanville dealt with sanctions, Holland was the team's steadying force. The versatile 6-foot-8 forward averaged 20.3 points, 10.1 boards, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals for the No. 1 public school team in the country and helped the Panthers amass a 29-1 record and No. 3 national ranking in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25. (Read more)

Tre Johnson, Jr., Lake Highlands (boys basketball)

Nation's No. 1 prospect in 2024 left the state a champion, transferring to reigning GEICO Nationals champion Link Academy in Missouri after leading Lake Highlands to a UIL Class 6A state championships as a junior. Averaged 21.8 points, 6.4 boards and 2.7 assists for Lake Highlands, which finished No. 20 in the nation in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25.

Cash McCollum, Jr., China Spring (football)

SBLive's All-Central Texas MVP had 3,201 passing yards, 37 TDs on 209-of-299 passing; 83 carries, 454 rushing yards, six TDs in 16 games played as a junior, leading China Spring to a repeat UIL Class 4A Division I state title.

Blake Mitchell, Sr., Sinton (baseball)

The 8th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft led Sinton to a UIL Class 4A title as a junior, then back to the semifinals this spring. SBLive's Texas Baseball Player of the Year.

Lathan Skrobarcek, Harlan (tennis)

Won UIL Class 6A regional and state championships in 2023, bringing Harlan a team title along the way. His singles title was won in three sets (6-1, 2-6, 6-4) after placing third the year before.

Kevin Sanchez, Sr., Vandegrift (cross country)

Notre Dame signee repeated the UIL Class 6A state cross country title, this time winning by more than 15 seconds (15.26.3) last fall. Deemed one of the top high school cross country runners in Central Texas history by the Austin American-Statesman.

Travis Sykora, Sr., Round Rock (baseball)

SBLive's Texas Pitcher of the Year. Sykora went 7-0 on the mound in 58 innings as a senior, but the strong 6-foot-6 hurler really jumped into high-round draft conversation last summer touching 100 at the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

Reese Vannerson, Sr., Houston Strake Jesuit (track and field)

Arizona State signee was one of the top high school distance runners in the country entering the spring and backed every bit of it up. Logged the best 1,600 time in the nation and second best 1,500 time, and UIL Class 6A 1,600 and 3,200 state championships — set a state meet record in the 3,200.

Adam Villanueva, Soph., Austin Westlake (golf)

His 132 across two days at the UIL Class 6A state meet earned him an individual state title and the state's lowest score across classifications — a win undergirded by heart-breaking inspiration.

Bryson Washington, Sr., Franklin (football)

Baylor signee was SBLive's All-East Texas MVP last season. He helped Franklin build a notable win streak and his last-second touchdown lifted Franklin to a thrilling UIL Class 3A Division I quarterfinal win.

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Lead photo by Naji Saker