The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Boys Athlete of the Year for the 2024-25 school year is Brenden Lewis, a senior multi-sport athlete at Granite Hills High School. Here’s a look at Lewis’ accomplishments and why he stands as the best in San Diego this year:
Brenden Lewis
High school: Granite Hills
Year: Senior
Sports: Football and baseball
Positions: Wide receiver and shortstop/pitcher
Up next: Lewis is headed to Arizona State, where he will play baseball.
Other Athlete of the Year options: The final three in consideration were all from Granite Hills — Lewis, football/baseball player Parker Vance and football/basketball/volleyball player Lathan Fry. The school honored all three.
Granite Hills High School’s Brenden Lewis (2) prepares to throw a ball during the Open Division championship game on Friday, May 30, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Highlights: Lewis is a two-time San Diego Section Player of the Year in baseball. While not unprecedented, it is rare. Pitcher Mike Correia of USDHS (now Cathedral Catholic) doubled up in 1980-81, first baseman Adrián González (Eastlake) went back-to-back in 1998-99, pitcher Matt Bush (Mission Bay) was honored in 2003-04, and pitcher Troy Conyers (El Capitan) was a two-time winner in 2011-12. Gonzalez and Bush were both first-round picks who went on to play in the major leagues.
By the numbers: Lewis had 63 receptions for 688 yards and six touchdowns in football, catching 13 passes against Torrey Pines and 11 against Grossmont. He also rushed three times for 17 yards and returned 17 kickoffs of 394 yards. A punter, he had a long boot of 58 yards and dropped 13 punts inside the 20. … In baseball, Lewis batted .373 with eight homers, seven doubles, one triple, 26 RBIs and 40 runs scored. He struck out just six times in 110 plate appearances. Lewis was stellar on the mound, going 7-0 with a 1.50 ERA and a save. He allowed just 48 hits over 56 innings, striking out 62 and walking just 10.
Granite Hills’ Brenden Lewis on the sidelines during the second half against Cathedral Catholic at Granite Hills High School in El Cajon on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Championships: Granite Hills’ baseball team was the Open Division champion this season, going 24-0-2 before losing in the Southern California Regionals. The Eagles’ football team went 11-3, winning its third straight San Diego Section title before falling to Huntington Beach Edison in the SoCal Regional finals.
“The goal at Granite Hills is to win championships,” Lewis said. “With a three-peat possible in football, we really pushed,” Lewis said. “In baseball, we’ve had a great group that has been together for a while. So it was a storybook finish, a dream come true to win it with them.”
Why football? “I’ve always played,” Lewis said. “My dad and brother played. My dad coached for 25 years. Baseball is my sport, but I love football. There was never any fear of injury because I know how to play the game and protect myself.”
Baseball heroes: “Jackie Robinson is my inspiration. What he did, what he went through is truly remarkable,” Lewis said. “As a shortstop, I love watching Derek Jeter.”
Why Arizona State? “I love the heat, so that doesn’t bother me,” Lewis said. “It’s close to home, so my family can come see me play. The coaching staff is great, and I like the area. I wanted to get away from home, but not too far.”
Other choices: Lewis chose the Sun Devils over offers from Oregon, Washington and USD.
Granite Hills’ Brenden Lewis punts the ball during the third quarter against Cathedral Catholic at Granite Hills High School in El Cajon on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Football in college? “I might punt if there is a need,” Lewis said, “but my focus in college will be on baseball.”
School work: Lewis finished high school with a 4.2 GPA. “My family is big on grades,” he said. “It’s a pride thing.” While Lewis likes math and has an interest in criminal justice, he plans to major in business/communications at ASU. “I love talking sports,” he said, “so my ideal job would be to work at ESPN.”
Granite Hills High School’s Brenden Lewis (2) during Wednesday’s CIF San Diego Open Division baseball playoff game between Del Norte High and Granite Hills High in San Diego, CA. (Xavier Hernandez for the UT)
Feeling a draft? “I doubt I’ll get drafted (by the MLB this year), so I’ll go to college, get bigger, stronger, faster,” he said. “We’ll see what happens in three years.”
Coachspeak: “What an amazing year for us at Granite Hills,” said James Davis, the school’s athletic director and baseball coach. “We had three great Player of the Year candidates in Brenden, Parker and Lathan. Because of the way he played baseball, pitching, hitting and he can really play shortstop, and add in football, he’s my choice.”
More coachspeak: “For me, the vote was razor thin between Parker Vance and Brenden,” said Eagles football coach Kellan Cobbs. “Parker was All-CIF in two sports. But Brenden is an incredible leader, a guy who calms things down. And he has the talent to play shortstop and pitch.”