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2022, News

2022 Donna LJ Murphy Award Winner

The Eighth Annual Donna L.J. Murphy Award will be presented to Jaya McClure of Christian Academy of Louisville during the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation’s 2022 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony, being held in person on March 20th 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. “Each year I am blown away by the credentials and accomplishments of the ladies who are nominated and the decision is always very difficult. This year all of the nominees were very admirable but Jaya’s essay really resonated with me and demonstrates that she is a stand out person on and off the court and she definitely deserves to be recognized,” said Donna Murphy.

Jaya McClure, a senior at Christian Academy of Louisville enrolled in the school of Biomedical Science, has played varsity basketball for six years, is a part of the 2,000+ point club at CAL and holds a 3.9 GPA. Jaya’s high school career to this point consists of 2,169 total points, 433 assists, 649 rebounds, 296 steals and she averages 16 points per game. Jaya is actively involved in many roles in her extracurricular activities including initiating the Student Diversity Leadership Council at CAL as a freshman and continuing to serve on the committee throughout her time at CAL. She also participated in a Global Missions Health Conference as a freshman, is an athletic intern as a senior and was selected to the Louisville Girls Leadership Program in 2019/20.

Jaya has received several awards/recognitions during her basketball career along with receiving nine D-1 collegiate offers. She is a 2022 McDonald’s All-American Games Nominee, she has lead CAL to three 2A – State Championship Titles (2019, 2020, 2022), she has been named to the Kentucky 2A All-Tournament Team in 2019, 2020 and 2022 and was the Kentucky 2A MVP in 2022. She has participated in many national basketball camps and has committed to serving the youth in her community by volunteering as a middle school trainer, teaching fundamentals and skills that she has learned at these camps to middle school girls. She has committed to play for Ohio University in the 2022-2023 basketball season and has been accepted into the Russ College of Engineering & Technology.

 

When asked what basketball has taught her over the years and how she would apply it to her life in the future, Jaya’s response was: “I love the game. I love the poetic flow, I love the feeling it brings; but most importantly, I love the way it’s shaped my life. I’ve given my all to this game; in return, it’s blessed me in so many ways. This game has transformed my perception of life in a way deeper way than words could ever explain. This game has taught me that I’m a leader, who can get anything done with the right mindset. I want to instill confidence into young kids, whether that’s in basketball or life. I will be a voice for our future.”

 

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, with a BA in Communications/ Journalism with Teacher Certification, and a MHE in Counseling.

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. Murphy is currently a Professor and Counselor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and oversees the Diversity Outreach Services and Intramural Sports. In her free time she is a basketball skills trainer.

All sports fans are welcome to attend or view the 2022 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 11th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award 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 http://www.kylionseye.org.

2021, Candidates, News

2021 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Candidates

Congratulations to the following Kentucky senior student athletes who have been selected as the 2021 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball candidates as well as the Regional Players of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.

Miss Kentucky Basketball 

Region 1: Cayson Conner – Marshall County
Region 2: Sadie Wurth – Henderson County
Region 3: Aleigha Mucker – Breckinridge County
Region 4: Lucy Patterson – Warren East
Region 5: Ella Thompson – Bethlehem
Region 6: Tiarra East – Butler
Region 7: Taylor Price – Louisville Central
Region 8: Brynna Blackburn – South Oldham
Region 9: Brie Crittendon – Ryle
Region 10: Mya Meredith – Scott High
Region 11: Brooklynn Miles – Franklin County
Region 12: Macey Blevins – Wayne County
Region 13: Mikkah Siler – Williamsburg
Region 14: Lexy Lynch – Owsley County
Region 15: Katie Moore – Floyd Central
Region 16: Harley Paynter – Boyd County

 

Mr. Kentucky Basketball 

Region 1 Co-Candidate: Noah Dumas – McCracken County
Region 1 Co-Candidate: Zion Harmon – Marshall County
Region 2: Destin Allen – Webster County
Region 3: Nash Divine – Muhlenberg County
Region 4: Isaiah Mason – Bowling Green
Region 5: Jaquias Franklin – Elizabethtown
Region 6: Devin Perry – DeSales
Region 7: Cameron Pope – Male
Region 8: Kelly Niece – Simon Kenton
Region 9: Sam Vinson – Highlands
Region 10: Grant Profitt – Scott High
Region 11: Ben Johnson – Lexington Catholic
Region 12: Kade Grundy – Somerset
Region 13: Jevonte Turner – Knox Central
Region 14: Jaz Johnson – Wolfe County
Region 15: Isaiah May – Johnson Central
Region 16: Mason Moore – Rowan County

2021, News

2021 Bill ‘Mr. Wildcat’ Keightley Award

The Fourth Annual Bill “Mr. Wildcat” Keightley Award will be presented to Tucker Bradley from Meade County High School during the 2021 Virtual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 18th.

Nominations were submitted from across the state for this prestigious award which honors a Kentucky high school senior basketball team manager, who exemplifies the essence of “team player”.  Someone who supports their team with passion, dedication and enthusiasm while also performing well off the court, in the classroom and in the community.

Tucker Bradley, a senior at Meade County High School said, “The biggest lesson I’ve learned from managing Meade County’s girls basketball team is the importance of humility and putting other people’s needs before my own. I’ve always grown up as the one playing in the game, so I never truly appreciated the importance of managers until I became one. Through my experience as a manager, I’ve learned that my role is to do anything necessary to keep the team operating at a high level.  This experience will serve me well in the future, when I start off at the bottom in my workplace and have to prove my work-ethic and accountability to fellow employees. My dream is to work as a sports analyst for ESPN and managing the basketball team has given me the opportunity to cut up film and interpret the importance of different statistics on the outcome of the game. In that regard, being a manager now has given me a small glimpse into my future career.”

As well as managing, Tucker has played varsity tennis since 7th grade and won the Region 3 Championship in 2019.  Tucker is very active in several student groups at Meade County including: Students Against Destructive Decisions, Future Business Leaders of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the National Honor Society.  He currently serves as the Student Body Vice President, is a student ambassador at Meade County, is on the Superintendent Advisory Board and participated in the Governor’s Scholar Program.

Outside of school, Tucker can often be found volunteer for the Meade County Public Library or for Radiant Church Kid’s Ministry as he is part of their Youth Ministry Team.


William “Mr. Wildcat” Bill Keightley played basketball at Kavanaugh High School in Lawrenceburg, KY where he graduated in 1944.  He then attended Eastern Kentucky University until he entered the U.S. Marine Corps to serve his county in World War II.

Mr. Keightley served as the Equipment Manager for the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team from 1962 until his death in 2008.  He served under coaches Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and Billy Gillespie.  Keightley was part of three NCAA Championship teams and 12 South Eastern Conference Championship teams in his 46 years of tenure.

All sports fans are welcome to view the 2021 Virtual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony.   For questions please email JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org or call 270-999-4887.

The 10th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award 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.

2021, News

2021 ‘Wah Wah’ Jones Award Winner


The Eighth Annual Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones Award will be presented to Jackson Green from West Jessamine High School during the 2021 VIRTUAL Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on April 18th.

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 decision gets more difficult to make each year,” said Wallace “Wah” Jones, Jr.

Jackson Green, a senior at West Jessamine High School, has played basketball, baseball and football during his high school career, while maintaining a 3.385 GPA.

On the football field in 2020 Green was ranked first among 5A schools in receiving with 1,093 receiving yards and was ranked first in scoring with 21 touchdowns. He played in 32 games during his junior basketball season, averaging 8.3 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per game.  On the baseball diamond, as a sophomore Green had a .400 batting average.

“From leading his basketball team to a 12th Region Championship as a junior, to leading the state in receiving as a senior, and being a standout on the baseball diamond despite losing his junior season to COVID-19, Jackson is always at the center of attention,” according to one of his coaches, Damon Kelley. “His work ethic, character, and talent are second-to-none.”


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 view the 2021 Virtual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony.  e-Tickets are available to purchase now.  Visit http://www.MrandMissKYBasketball.com/tickets for more information.    For questions please email JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org or call 270-999-4887.

The 10th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award 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.

2021, News

2021 Donna LJ Murphy Award Winner

The Seventh Annual Donna L.J. Murphy Award will be presented to Sofia Allen of Scott High School during the 2021 Virtual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on April 18th.

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.  “The decision keeps getting harder every year.  This year all of the nominees were very admirable but Sofia is a stand out player and person on and off the court and she definitely deserves to be recognized,” said Donna Murphy.

Sofia Allen, a senior at Scott High School, has played varsity basketball for six years, is a part of the 1,000+ point club at Scott and holds a 3.9 GPA. Sofia is actively involved in leadership roles in the National Honor Society and National Hispanic Honor Society at her school, has received several awards/recognition’s during her basketball career as well as playing tennis, volleyball and running track.  She is a member of the student council at Scott High School and has committed herself to her community through several community service projects throughout her high school career.  She will be attending the University of Tampa in the fall on an academic scholarship.

When asked what basketball has taught her over the years and how she would apply it to her life in the future, Sofia’s response was:

“The game of basketball has taught me important life skills such as time management, leadership, communication, good work ethic, discipline, etc. Time management is essential. Basketball takes up a considerable amount of time, so organizing my time is important to me. Basketball has taught me how to prioritize my day. I have a daily schedule that includes practice, games, homework and school time. In the future, this will be an asset in any job or business. Leadership is also important, not only from coaches but from players as well. Leading well will produce great results in a team whether on the court or off, in a business situation or a family situation. I have learned a lot from my coaches on how to lead by being tough, but also showing compassion. Being able to communicate is a great life skill. Understanding the plays or instructions from your coach and teammates is vital. Effective communication is also valuable in life. Being able to talk out differences and still be respectful is a great skill to master. I am learning all of these skills and building upon that foundation so that I may have a successful future.”

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, with a BA in Communications/ Journalism with Teacher Certification, and a MHE in Counseling.

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. Murphy is currently a Professor and Counselor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and oversees the Diversity Outreach Services and Intramural Sports. In her free time she is a basketball skills trainer.

All sports fans are welcome to view the 2021 Virtual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony.   For questions please email JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org or call 270-999-4887.

The 10th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award 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.

News

2020 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony Update

2020 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony To Be Held Virtually on Sunday, June 28th. 

The Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation will present the first-ever virtual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on Sunday, June 28th.  Further details will be released in the upcoming weeks.  This week the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation staff will begin reaching out directly to candidates, award winners and ticket holders with more information.

“While we understand that this is the safest option for everyone, we are sad that we were not able to host our 2020 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards as originally planned in April and although we had hoped to reschedule the event to be held in person on June 28th, unfortunately this will not be possible,” said Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation Executive Director, Lindy Lamkin.  “Although our Awards Ceremony is going to look a bit different this year, the meaning of the moment remains the same.  This event is intended to recognize each of our candidates and award winners and their accomplishments on and off the basketball court over their careers.”

Updates will be posted at www.mrandmisskybasketball.com regularly.  Please direct any questions to Jennifer Hunt at JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org.

News

2020 Stat Leader Awards

Today the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation in conjunction with the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches are excited to announce that the following students athletes will receive Kentucky high school basketball regular season statistic leader awards for the 2019-2020 season.

 

The winners of these awards are selected by using KHSAA compiled statistical data as of the morning of February 24th at the end of the 2019-2020 regular season.  These stats do not include any District, Regional or State Tournament play.

The awards will go to the male and female with these highest 2019-2020 regular season statistics:

  • Highest scoring average (points per game) in the 2019-2020 regular season.  (Minimum of 20 games played)
    • Kendall Wingler – Meade County – 31.8 Points Per Game
    • Spencer Baird – Casey County – 28.3 Points Per Game

 

  • Highest field goal (2 pt and 3 pt) percentage in the 2019-2020 regular season.  (Minimum of 20 games played & more than 3 attempts per game)
    • Destiny Elliott – Prestonsburg – 65.7%
    • Kaleb Glenn – Male – 72.9%

 

  • Highest free throw percentage in 2019-2020 regular season.  (Minimum of 20 games played & more than 3 attempts per game)
    • Kendall Wingler – Meade County – 88.1%
    • Brant Smithers – Walton-Verona – 90%

 

  • Highest 3-point average per game in 2019-2020 regular season.  (Minimum of 20 games played)
    • Kendall Wingler – Meade County – 4.5 Per Game
    • Jeremy Davis – Simon-Kenton – 4.0 Per Game

 

  • Highest rebound average per game in 2019-2020 regular season.  (Minimum of 20 games played)
    • Katie Ball – Belfry – 14.4 Per Game
    • Rodrell Dryden – Greenup County – 15.3 Per Game