Fort Myers' Paris Thompson named Florida Volleyball Gatorade Player of the Year

Paris Thompson's latest accolade hits home.

Thompson, the standout outside hitter at Fort Myers, was named the 2020-21 Gatorade Florida Volleyball Player of the Year, it was announced Thursday.

The honor came for the Notre Dame signee 34 years after her mother Holly Kelly won the Gatorade Florida Player of the Year award for track and field in 1987.

That made the award extra special for Thompson. 

"I'm still kind of in shock honestly because there's so many great players in Florida," she said. 

The award, in its 36th year, recognizes athletic excellence as well as academic achievement and character on and off the field, according to the news release. Thompson is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year to be announced later this month.

The honor speaks to the strength of the volleyball program at Fort Myers, Thompson said. 

Thompson finished her senior season with 413 kills, 228 digs and 42 aces in 75 sets in leading her team to a 19-3 record, a state final four appearance, a 14th district title in 15 years and its first regional championship in five years.

Stephanie Martin, the head volleyball coach at Fort Myers, said the Green Wave community is "so excited" for Thompson's achievement. 

"Paris has always shown a commitment to her teammates and her school," she said. "She always brought enthusiasm to the court. We wish her all the best at Notre Dame."

Thomspon, a two-time News-Press Player of the Year and Player of the Decade, previously earned the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Volleyball award and an Under Armour second-team All-American selection.

More:Fort Myers outside hitter, Notre Dame recruit Paris Thompson named Florida's Miss Volleyball

With the award, Thompson has the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national sports organization of her choosing through Gatorade's "Pay it Forward" campaign. 

Thompson said she plans to discuss her decision with teachers at Fort Myers, but mentioned that students in the ESE program have always had a place in her heart. She previously volunteered with the school's Unified Basketball team.

Thompson has early enrolled at Notre Dame, which allows her to practice and train with the Fighting Irish on a 16-hour schedule. 

It's a decision she's grateful for as she's had more time to adjust to the life of a college student-athlete.

"I'm so glad I did come up early because it's just going to make it that much easier in the fall," she said.

As a result, she couldn't be with Fort Myers friends and family when the news came in, but she was inundated with texts in group chats early this morning.

"It hasn't really hit yet that I accomplished this," Thompson said.

Follow News-Press Sports Reporter Dustin Levy on Twitter: @DustinBLevy. For additional coverage of sports across Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.