2023, News

2022-2023 Regular Season Stats Leaders

The following Kentucky student athletes will be honored by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation and the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches as the KHSAA Regular Season Stats Leaders for the 2022-2023 basketball season during the upcoming 12th Annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony presented by the Madden Foundation on March 19, 2023.

Scoring Leaders

 Kensley Feltner (Lawrence County) & Jacob Meyer (Holy Cross Covington)

 

Field Goal Leaders

Alyssa Daughrity (Murray) & Gabe Dynes (Simon Kenton)

Free Throw Leaders

 Carly Smith (Owsley County) & Max Green (Oldham County)

Three Point  Leaders

Noelle Hubert (Notre Dame) & Travis Perry (Lyon County)

Rebounding Leaders

 Grace Mbugua (Danville Christian) & Peyton Dixon (Letcher County Central)

 

All sports fans are welcome to attend or view the 2023 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 12th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award Ceremony presented by The Madden Foundation 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.

2023, News

Three Kentucky senior students to be honored during the 2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony

The 12th Annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony will include the presentation of awards to fifty student athletes from across Kentucky!  These will include the 2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball candidates and KABC Regional Players of the Year, ten of the regular season stats leaders as noted by the KHSAA as well as the winners of the 9th Annual Donna LJ Murphy Award, the 10th Annual “Wah Wah” Jones Award and the 6th Annual Bill “Mr. Wildcat” Keightley Award.  These awards will be presented during the 2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony presented by the Madden Foundation on March 19th at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Resort. Today, we are happy to share the selections for the following awards:
Click on the links above to learn more about each award and the 2023 award winners.

 

All sports fans are welcome to attend or view the 2023 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 12th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award Ceremony presented by The Madden Foundation 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.

2023, News

2023 Donna LJ Murphy Award Winner

The Ninth Annual Donna L.J. Murphy Award will be presented to Haven Ford of Rowan County during the 2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony presented by the Madden Foundation on March 19th 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 reminded of the great talent that Kentucky has in our girls’ basketball programs!  So many of the ladies who were nominated have had some great accomplishments in their high school basketball career and this decision is always very difficult.” said Donna Murphy.

Haven Ford, a senior at Rowan County, has played varsity basketball for six years, is a part of the 3,000+ point club at Rowan County and holds an impressive 4.0 GPA. Haven is a three-sport athlete, having played basketball, soccer and softball during her career with the Vikings.  Haven has received several awards/recognitions during her basketball career and holds the following records at Rowan County High School:

  • All-time leading scorer
  • All-Time steals leader
  • All-time assist leader

Haven has committed to play for Murray State University in the 2023-2024 basketball season.

When asked what basketball has taught her over the years and how she would apply it to her life in the future, Haven’s response was: “I have learned the importance of not settling when faced with adversity, the importance of being humble, and the value of teamwork. Always being humble has been important to me because it results in respect. To me, I feel that the way you handle being a good athlete speaks louder than your athletic ability. Basketball is a true team sport, and it takes everyone to do their role in order to be successful.”

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 now retired after many years working as a Professor and Counselor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, overseeing 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 2023 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 12th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award Ceremony presented by The Madden Foundation 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.

 

 

2023, News

2023 Bill “Mr. Wildcat” Keightley Award Winner

The Sixth Annual Bill “Mr. Wildcat” Keightley Award will be presented to Grant Wells from Bullitt Central High School during the 2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony presented by the Madden Foundation on March 19th at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Resort.

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.

Grant Wells, a senior at Bullitt Central High School said, ” I have learned that selflessness is the key to team success. This goes for not only a basketball team, but any sort of group with multiple moving parts. Much like a good basketball team, to be the best at anything we can possibly be, we all have to do our jobs and take accountability in our roles. Being selfless and getting everyone involved is the always the best idea in any situation, and that is the best key life skill that I have learned from being in my current position.”

As well as managing for three years, he’s also been on the Honor Roll each year of his high school career, is a member of the Beta Club, is on the Bass Fishing Team at Bullitt Central and has maintained a 4.2 GPA.

When asked what made Grant a standout manager, Coach Griffin said, “Grant is an excellent student manager. He is prompt and available for any job that necessary. He has a wide array of skills and can help the team in so many different facets. Grant is kind, polite, and patient. He has a great relationship with coaches and players on the team. He has recruited younger managers to help him, and he has done an excellent job teaching them the ropes. I was a collegiate basketball manager and I feel that Grant can do the same role. We are very proud of Grant, and we are fortunate to have him in our program.”


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 attend or view the 2023 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 12th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award Ceremony presented by The Madden Foundation 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.

 

2023, News

2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Candidates

Congratulations to the following Kentucky senior student athletes who have been selected as the 2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball candidates as well as the Regional Players of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.

Miss KY Basketball Candidates:

1st Region: Destiny Thomas, McCracken County

2nd Region: Taylor Guess, Crittenden County

3rd Region: Adylan Ayer, Daviess County

4th Region: Meadow Tisdale, Bowling Green

5th Region: Emma Filiatreau, Bethlehem

6th Region: Haley Dillman, Bullitt Central

7th Region: Jakayla Thompson, duPont Manual

8th Region: Grace Brewer, Walton-Verona

9th Region: Whitney Lind, Cooper

10th Region: Brianna Byars, George Rogers Clark

11th Region: Kylee Dennis, Sayre High School

12th Region: Ayden Smiddy, Southwestern
Timberlynn Yeast, Mercer County

13th Region: Emily Sizemore, North Laurel

14th Region: Courtney Hoskins, Leslie County
Abby Maggard , Hazard

15th Region: Kensley Feltner, Lawrence County

16th Region: Haven Ford, Rowan County

 

Mr. KY Basketball Candidates:

1st Region: Jack McCune, McCracken County

2nd Region: TaMarcus Eaves, Madisonville North Hopkins
Gerard Thomas, Henderson County

3rd Region: Brian Griffith, Owensboro Catholic

4th Region: Chappelle Whitney, Warren Central

5th Region: Carson Childress, LaRue County

6th Region: Keith Robinson, Pleasure Ridge Park

7th Region: Gabe Sisk, Ballard

8th Region: Teagan Moore, Owen County

9th Region: Evan Ipsaro, Covington Catholic
Jacob Meyer, Holy Cross

10th Region: Terrell Henry, Mason County
Jerone Morton, George Rogers Clark

11th Region: Jaylen Davis, Madison Central
Reece Potter, Lexington Catholic

12th Region: Kyle Stephens, McCreary Central

13th Region: Reed Sheppard, North Laurel

14th Region: Sawyer Thompson, Wolfe County

15th Region: Rylee Samons, Pikeville High School

16th Region: Zachary Otis, Bath County

 

Congratulations to our 2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Candidates and KABC Regional Players of the Year! We are looking forward to celebrating you on March 19th at the 2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony, presented by the Madden Foundation.

Special THANKS to Christi Thomas and to Rupp Arena for allowing us to come in and make this presentation!

THANK YOU to ALL of our wonderful sponsors and supporters who help to make this a great event: The Madden Foundation, Community Trust Bank, Louisville Downtown Lions Club, Morgan Stanley, Kentucky Circuit Courts’ Trust for Life, Lexington Lions Club, UK Advanced Eye Care, Paul Miller Ford, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP, Republic Bank, Ad-Venture Promotions, Jostens, Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame, Audio Visual Techniques and our partners at PrepSpin, KHSAA and the Kentucky Assocation of Basketball Coaches!

 

2023, News

2023 Mr. and Miss KY Basketball Candidates / KABC Regional Players of the Year Announcement

 

Congratulations to our 2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Candidates and KABC Regional Players of the Year! We are looking forward to celebrating you on March 19th at the 2023 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony, presented by the Madden Foundation.

Special THANKS to Christi Thomas and to Rupp Arena for allowing us to come in and make this presentation!

THANK YOU to ALL of our wonderful sponsors and supporters who help to make this a great event: The Madden Foundation, Community Trust Bank, Louisville Downtown Lions Club, Morgan Stanley, Kentucky Circuit Courts’ Trust for Life, Lexington Lions Club, UK Advanced Eye Care, Paul Miller Ford, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP, Republic Bank, Ad-Venture Promotions, Jostens, Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame, Audio Visual Techniques and our partners at PrepSpin, KHSAA and the Kentucky Assocation of Basketball Coaches!

2022, News

2022 Bill ‘Mr. Wildcat’ Keightley Award

The Fifth Annual Bill “Mr. Wildcat” Keightley Award will be presented to Erin Baxter from Pleasure Ridge Park School during the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation’s 2022 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on March 20th at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Resort.

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.

Erin Baxter, a senior at Pleasure Ridge Park High School said, “I have learned how to work and get things done on time and efficiently as well as how to make friends and meet new people over the years of being the Boys Basketball Manager. I have been able to use my time management skills to earn a 3.94 GPA, while being a member of many clubs and activities. I am looking forward to taking the skills I learned from managing the basketball team with me to college as I play Volleyball and complete an Athletic Training Program. I also developed a passion for PRP Basketball and sports.”

As well as managing all four years, she’s also been on the Honor Roll each year of her high school career. Erin has played Volleyball and fast pitch Softball and is very active in several student groups and activities at PRP including: Beta Club, National Honors Society and Yearbook. She has also volunteered in Greenwood Elementary’s ‘Everyone Reads’ Program and has volunteered during Vacation Bibble School at Beechland Baptist

Church. She has been accepted into Spalding University and plans to be accepted into the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program upon completing the appropriate prerequisites.


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 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.

2022, News

2022 ‘Wah Wah’ Jones Award Winner

The Ninth Annual Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones Award will be presented to Chase Alderman from Rowan County High School during the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation’s 2022 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on March 20th 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 decision gets more difficult to make each year,” said Wallace “Wah” Jones, Jr.

Chase Alderman, a senior at Rowan County High School, has played baseball, basketball, football and soccer during his high school career, while maintaining a 4.26 GPA. Alderman’s athletic abilities were noticed early, as he lettered in varsity swimming as a 4th grader, and scored points for his team at the Regional swim meet. Chase enjoyed competing with his older brother Ty on the swim team, who went on to swim at Transylvania University. This school year Chase was named Mr. Rowan County, a prestigious award which is voted on by teachers and school staff.

For the Vikings on the basketball court this season Chase has been averaging 18 points, 12 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He is also a member of the 1,000 point club at Rowan County.  When asked what is was like coaching Chase, his basketball coach, Shawn Thacker commented, “It is truly amazing and speaks volume of his sports IQ for how many sports he is involved in. He picks everything up the first time I tell him. He is one of the best leaders I’ve had the pleasure of coaching. His teammates don’t play hard out of fear or pressure, they play hard because they don’t want to let Chase down. He is a young many that is as or more enjoyable being around away from the court as he is on the court.”

Chase came in to relief pitch as a freshmen in the semis of the regional tournament and has worked hard to become ranked 2nd and 3rd as a right handed pitcher by two different scouting services in the state of Kentucky for the class of 2022. After receiving several Division 1 baseball scholarship offers, Alderman chose to play at Eastern Kentucky University starting the 2022-2023 season.
Alderman played soccer throughout his high school career and during the fall 2021 season he made 24 goals and had 12 assists. His soccer coach Max Hammonds commented that, “Chase is an incredible young man, the great thing about having a player like Chase, is not only is he willing to play any position that we need him to play that night, but he is also the best at that spot. When your best player is also your hardest working player it makes a coaches’ job much easier.”

His senior season, Chase played football for Rowan County and his coach Kelly Ford said, “My only wish was that Chase would have decided to come out to football as a freshmen, I can’t imagine where he would be as a Senior with 4 years under his belt. Chase is a player the young kids gravitate towards, he is what every locker room needs.”


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 2022 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 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 www.kylionseye.org.

2022, News

2022 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Candidates / KABC Regional Players of the Year

Congratulations to the following Kentucky senior student athletes who have been selected as the 2022 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball candidates as well as the KABC Regional Players of the Year.

Miss Kentucky Basketball Candidates / KABC Regional Female Players of the Year:

Region 1: Halle Langhi – Marshall County
Region 2: Camryn LaGrange – Madionsville North Hopkins
Region 3: Isabel Grimes – Breckinridge County
Region 4: Raven Ennis – Barren County
Region 5: Monica Lindsey – Central Hardin
Region 6: Gracie Merkle – Bullitt East
Region 7 Co-Candidate: Josie Gilvin – Sacred Heart Academy
Region 7 Co-Candidate: Jaya McClure – Christian Academy of Louisville
Region 8: Amiya Jenkins – Anderson County
Region 9 Co-Candidate: Madelyn Lawson – Dixie Heights
Region 9 Co-Candidate: Rylee Turner – Newport Catholic
Region 10: Allison Hughes – St. Patrick
Region 11: Anaya Brown – Lafayette
Region 12: Caroline Oakes – Pulaski County
Region 13: Hailee Valentine – North Laurel
Region 14: Kaylee Banks – Letcher County Central
Region 15: Cassidy Rowe – Shelby Valley
Region 16: Allie Stone – West Carter

 

Mr. Kentucky Basketball Candidates / KABC Regional Male Players of the Year:

Region 1: Brant Brower – McCracken County
Region 2: Jabrion Spikes – Caldwell County
Region 3: Trey Lovell – Muhlenburg County
Region 4 Co-Candidate: Turner Buttry – Bowling Green
Region 4 Co-Candidate: Cade Stinnett – Greenwood
Region 5: Jay Milburn – Campbellsville
Region 6 Co-Candidate: Hunter Coleman – Bullitt Central
Region 6 Co-Candidate: Darian Lewis – Fern Creek
Region 7 Co-Candidate: Maker Bar – Ballard
Region 7 Co-Candidate: Mekhi Smith – St. Xavier
Region 8: Brant Smithers – Walton-Verona
Region 9: Mitchell Rylee – Covington Catholic
Region 10: Justin Becker – Robertson County
Region 11: Will Hardin – Madison Central
Region 12: Luke Imfeld – Boyle County
Region 13: Jordan Akal – Harlan
Region 14: Landon Napier – Perry County Central
Region 15: Brady Dingess – Martin County
Region 16: Brady Bell – Russell