2025

2025 “Wah Wah” Jones Award Winner

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The 12th Annual Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones Award will be presented to James Burnett from Saint Xavier High School during the 2025 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on March 16th at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Resort.
Nominees were submitted from across the state to the Jones family for this prestigious award for senior multi-sport athletes who excel equally in their classroom and contribute greatly to their community.”All of the nominees were very deserving, and this is always a difficult decision to make each year,” said Wallace “Wah” Jones, Jr. 
James, a senior at Saint Xavier, has participated in track and field all four years of his high school career, played football his sophomore, junior and senior years and played basketball during his freshman year. James has excelled in his track and field career with back-to-back 400M State Championships, he scored a perfect 40 Points at the Regional Championship his junior year winning the 100, 200, 400, and Long Jump and entered his senior year as the school record holder in 100, 200, and 400.  He helped lead his team to State Titles his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons.
“James is an incredible athlete. He has attempted numerous events outside of the ones he has competed in and learns them quickly (hurdles, triple jump, high jump, etc),” said his coach, David Stewart. James has accepted an offer to attend Indiana University next year and is discussing being a decathlete for them.
On the football field for the Tigers, James’ presence as a cornerback greatly limited balls being thrown to his side of the field. In his senior season he had 30 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 interception.

Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones, Sr. was a two-sport All-American at the University of Kentucky, playing for legendary coaches Adolph Rupp and Bear Bryant, winning two national championships and an NIT.  Jones is the only player at the University of Kentucky to have his jerseys retired in both sports.

In addition to basketball and football, Jones was a pitcher with the Wildcats and a member of the UK track and field team.  He won a gold medal in the 1948 Summer Olympics with Rupp’s “Fabulous Five” and the Phillip 66ers.  After college Jones went on to play in the National Basketball Association with the Indianapolis Olympians. During his tremendous athletic career Jones was the image of sportsmanship and is respected throughout the world.

All sports fans are welcome to attend or view the 2025 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony. To learn more about the event visit www.mrandmisskybasketball.com.  For questions please email JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org or call 270-999-4887.

The 14th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony serves as a fundraiser for the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, who has announced Mr. Kentucky Basketball since 1954 and Miss Kentucky Basketball since 1976.  To learn more about KLEF’s mission and our programs and services please visit www.kylionseye.