After finishing a stellar high school career, Marietta's Chevez Clarke was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the first round of Major League Baseball's draft.

Now, Clarke is being honored once more for his accolades as a Blue Devil.

The Braves 400 Fan Club recently announced Clarke as its High School Player of the Year, and he will he honored Feb. 5 as part of the club's annual banquet at the Georgia World Congress Center.

"It was truly a blessing," Clarke said of the award. "I have to thank the team for being there for me so that I could be nominated for this."

Clarke will share the stage with retired Braves manager Bobby Cox, who will be honored for his decades of service to baseball in Atlanta.

"It's like being a little kid and you get this toy, but you don't have it yet," Clarke said of the chance to meet Cox. "But you want it so bad. I can't wait to get on stage with Bobby Cox. I was a die-hard Braves fan growing up."

Even though Marietta coach Chris Stafford only spent one year with Clarke, he's hoping to be there next month to support his former pupil.

"My daughter's birthday is the same weekend as the banquet, and we are probably going to have a conflict, but we might be doing some rearranging," he said. "With Bobby Cox retiring, it adds to Chevez being there. With my first year at Marietta (last year), I would love to be a part of that. It's being discussed right now, but hadn't been decided yet."

Clarke received his award based on responses from coaches in the metro-Atlanta area. Combined with advice from pro scouts and information on the Major League Baseball draft, a Braves 400 Club committee made its decision.

"The committee pretty much knows who will be a top draft choice, and we kind of looking for Chevez's application when it came in," said Johnny Tallant, a member of the Braves 400 Fan Club. "His stats weren't really as good as some other people, but the fact that he played on a team that didn't win a lot of games made a difference. Sometimes, it's hard to do stats because the stats will be hard to measure because they might play against bad competition. At Marietta, we knew that he played against good competition."

As a senior, Clarke played predominantly as an outfielder and batted .403 with five home runs, 14 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He also spent time as Marietta's closer on the mound.

It was that versatility that allowed Clarke to be the 30th overall draft pick by the Angels last June. It was high enough for him to bypass a scholarship to Georgia Tech and instead try his hand at professional baseball.

"I've had a chance to coach a lot of kids that had gone on to play college," Stafford said. "A few had been blessed enough to go the professional ranks as either late-round picks or free agents. But few coaches ever have the opportunity to coach that makes the first round. It made my transition that much more exciting for me. With a kid that has his head on straight and a good family behind him, combined with the tools that he has, if those tools max out, you could see him playing in the big leagues some day."

After receiving his award, Clarke will spend some more time at home before reporting for spring training in March at the Angels' complex in Tempe, Ariz.

It will be his first full season as a professional. In 162 at-bats for the Angels' rookie league team last year, Clarke batted .216 with five doubles, seven triples, three home runs and 18 RBIs. He stole nine bases in 11 attempts.

Clarke has been working out since December as he hopes to continue his ascent in the Angels' farm system.

"I've been getting ready to go back and, actually, I can't wait to go back so I can have another great year."