North Crowley’s Quentin Gibson named 2024-25 Boys’ Athlete of the Year
After a historic senior season that redefined expectations, North Crowley wide receiver Quentin Gibson has been named the 2024-25 Star-Telegram Boys’ High School Athlete of the Year, an honor reserved for the best of the best across all sports in the Fort Worth-area.
Gibson’s journey from an overlooked underdog to the most electrifying player in Texas is more than a breakout story — it’s a reminder that greatness can come from anywhere. Ahead of the 2024 UIL high school football season, Gibson was another name in a seemingly endless North Crowley talent pool.
He was undersized, standing at 5-foot-9 and weighing 165 pounds. He had all the skill and athleticism to be the next big breakout star, but flew under the radar as an underrated recruit within one of Texas’ most talent-packed programs.
What happened next was nothing short of stunning. Gibson surpassed all expectations and continually raised the bar week by week, leading the Panthers to a perfect season and a historic Class 6A Division I state championship win.
Gibson had an incredibly strong start with 506 yards in the first three games of the season and continued to record 2,009 receiving yards and 38 touchdowns on the season. He shined in big moments, including a 107-yard, two-touchdown performance against Duncanville and a 180-yard, four-touchdown game against DeSoto.
In November, after Gibson continued to outdo himself with highlight-reel plays, head coach Ray Gates said, “There is no ball that’s thrown that is out of reach.”
“(Quentin Gibson) does it every single day in practice. ... There is not a ball that’s thrown that is out of reach. I’m done doubting his catch radius. He is superhuman.”
With the depth within North Crowley’s program, it’s not uncommon for breakout players to take massive steps. But this leap from Gibson was more than a breakout year — it was a statement that catapulted him to becoming the premier receiver and overall player in Texas high school football.
Sure, he didn’t have the five-star rating or the frame that college coaches want. What he did have was an It factor — a special ability to make magic out of nothing.
And at the end of the day, the ability to help your team win football games matters more than any measurable trait. Although many programs missed the window to land Gibson, he found a new home with the Colorado Buffaloes, signing in December and enrolling in January.
After the season, the awards piled in; Gibson was named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year and the Star-Telegram Player of the Year.
Gibson, who turned 18 on May 22, is now preparing for his first collegiate season. He’ll be a candidate to return punts, according to Colorado Buffaloes on SI. The transition to the next level can be challenging for any player, but if Gibson’s career trajectory stays consistent, there’s no telling what his limits can be.
Readers’ Choice Athlete of the Year: Alejandro Ibarra, Diamond Hill-Jarvis
Ibarra received the mos votes (3,171) in the Star-Telegram 2024-25 Readers’ Choice Boys’ Athlete of the Year poll. He adds that honor to an array of awards, including the past two Star-Telegram Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year honors.
As a senor, he finished with 37 goals and 16 assists, leading Diamond Hill-Jarvis to an undefeated district championship and a regional final playoff appearance. Ibarra has earned consecutive district MVP honors.
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