2026 Donna LJ Murphy Award Winner

The 12th Annual Donna L.J. Murphy Award will be presented to Teigh Yeast of George Rogers Clark High School during the 2026 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on March 22nd at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Resort.

Nominations were submitted from across the state for this prestigious award which honors a standout female senior basketball player who exemplifies the meaning of being a great student athlete.  “Every year, I’m amazed by the level of talent and character in Kentucky’s girls’ basketball programs. The nominees are all incredibly gifted young women, which makes selecting only one a real challenge,” said Donna Murphy.

Teigh Yeast, a distinguished senior at George Rogers Clark, exemplifies excellence both on and off the basketball court. She has scored 1,700+ career points and has been a key player behind two 10th Region championship teams and a Kentucky State Runner-Up team. “In the biggest moments, on the biggest stages, Teigh consistently delivers — leading with poise, confidence, and a competitive fire,” said Coach Robbie Graham.

On top of her tremendous basketball career, Teigh is also a nine-time Kentucky state champion in track and plays volleyball as well. Her speed, toughness, and mental focus translate seamlessly between sports and set her apart from her peers.  Academically, Teigh is just as impressive. She carries a 4.0+ GPA, demonstrating the same commitment to excellence in the classroom that she shows in competition. According to her coach and teachers, Teigh is a model student — organized, driven, and self-motivated — proving that elite athletics and elite academics can go hand in hand. As a teammate and leader, Teigh elevates everyone around her. She is coachable, selfless, and respected by teammates and coaches alike. She leads vocally when needed, leads by example always, and brings a calm confidence that steadies a team in pressure situations. Her work ethic sets the standard in practice, and her character sets the tone in the locker room.

Looking ahead, Teigh has committed to playing basketball for Robert Morris University and plans to study nursing and work in the healthcare field after graduation. Reflecting on her experiences, Teigh acknowledges that basketball has taught her how to handle pressure, manage stress, and remain focused during high-stakes moments, all of which will directly translate to the demands of nursing in her future career.

 

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Donna L.J. Murphy played basketball at Newport High School from 1972-76 and went on to become an All-American.  During her senior year she was named Kentucky’s first Miss Basketball in 1976, averaging 35 points and 20 rebounds.  She was awarded the Ted Sanford Award for being named the MVP of the 1975 Kentucky state tournament after she scored 67 points and grabbed 50 rebounds in two games.

More than a great high school basketball player, Murphy was also the State AA high jump champion in 1974 and named All-region in volleyball before graduating fifth in her class. As a highly recruited student-athlete, she chose to attend Morehead State University and graduated magna cum laude twice, and holds a BA, Communications/Journalism and a MHE, Counseling credentials. Murphy is a retired KCTCS professor/counselor, and works part-time with the University of Kentucky’s College of Education.

Murphy remains a highly decorated high school and college student-athlete and a member of eleven Hall of Fames, including the Kentucky Basketball Hall of Fame. Murphy was also the first female student-athlete to have her jersey retired at Morehead State University and Newport High School. She was the first forward drafted in the Women’s Professional Basketball League in 1980 and went on to play for the St. Louis Streak.  After her playing career she transitioned to coaching. She has held coaching positions at the collegiate level and also coached Pro-Am, high school, middle school, AAU and Exposure basketball. 

All sports fans are welcome to attend or view the 2026 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony. To learn more about the event visit http://www.mrandmisskybasketball.com.  For questions, please email JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org or call 270-999-4887.

The 15th 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.org.