About Community Grant
Winners
National Winners
State Winners
Winner Access Nominate
mobile navigation - click to open mobile navigation - click to close
6 Days Until the State Girls Soccer Announcement
Gatorade 2025 - 2026: Player of the Year

Boys Soccer - Connecticut

Gatorade Player of the year

Hayden Xhokaxhiu

Midfielder
SOUTH WINDSOR HS
SOUTH WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT
SENIOR
Height: 5-FOOT-10
Press Release

Peak Performance

35

Goals

18

Assists
“Hayden is a player who can control any game with his skill, tactical presence and leadership. He elevated his team to very high levels and never shied away from putting his team on his back when needed. Moments like that separate the good from the great. Hayden is 100 percent among the greats that I’ve seen on a high school soccer field.”
Mike Caccomo
Head Coach - Tolland High

Athletic Excellence

The 5-foot-10, 155 -pound senior midfielder led the Bobcats to a 16-4-2 record and the Class LL state semifinals this past season. Xhokaxhiu scored 35 goals and passed for 18 assists, and netting both goals, including a late-game penalty kick that he earned and converted, as South Windsor upset Farmington, 2-1, in the third round of the playoffs. Xhokaxhiu was directly involved in over 73% of his team’s goals on the season and set a single-season school scoring record with 35 goals. Ranked as the Northeast Region’s No. 26 recruit by TopDrawerSoccer, he is a two-time All-State selection and a 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-American honoree.

Academic Achievement

Xhokaxhiu has maintained a 3.78 weighted GPA in the classroom. He has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play soccer on scholarship at Stonehill College this fall.

Exemplary Character

Xhokaxhiu has volunteered locally as a mentor and tutor for elementary and middle school students. He has also donated his time as a coach at the Bobcat Soccer Academy youth camp.