The Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation presented the 2025 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards to Malachi Moreno from Great Crossing High School and ZaKiyah Johnson from Sacred Heart Academy on Sunday, March 16th during the 14th Annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Resort. The Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation has been naming Mr. Kentucky Basketball since 1954 and Miss Kentucky Basketball since 1976. The Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony not only recognizes nearly 50 Kentucky student athletes each year but serves as a fundraiser for the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation and supports our mission to provide vision services through education, detection, prevention, treatment and empowerment. Through collaborative partnerships, we enable greater independence and increased quality of life for all Kentuckians while focusing on children and adults in financial need. Congratulations to Malachi and ZaKiyah for being voted the 2025 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award recipients. Both will be invited to wear the #1 Jersey for Kentucky in the upcoming Kentucky vs. Indiana All-Star Games on June 6th and 7th.
2025 Mr. Kentucky Basketball – Malachi Moreno, a University of Kentucky signee and McDonald’s All-American was recently named Tournament MVP after recording a triple-double of 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots to lead Great Crossing to a 59-57 win in the 11th Region Championship, taking his team to back to back Sweet 16 appearances. Moreno is currently ranked No. 28 nationally in the 2025 class by the industry average 247Sports Composite. Moreno holds many school records at Great Crossing including: most points in a single game, most rebounds in a single game, season and career rebounds and most blocks in a single game, season and career blocks.
2025 Miss Kentucky Basketball – KaKiyah Johnson, a Louisiana State University signee, is a McDonald’s All-American, 3 time Gatorade Player of the year and was a member of the 2024 USA Team. She has helped lead her Valkries team to four (out of five) back to back KHSAA State Championships and is currently ranked No. 12 nationally in the 2025 class by the industry average 247Sports Composite. Johnson holds many school records at Sacred Heart Academy including: all time leading scorer, 1,000 rebounds and all time career assist leader.