The selection of the candidates for Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball is managed jointly by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation and the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.
KLEF and KABC to Streamline Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Candidate Selection Process in 2026.
The Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation (KLEF) and the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches (KABC) have a long history of working together to support Kentucky high school basketball. We are proud to continue that partnership by making the Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Candidate selection process one step easier for coaches.Since 2015, KABC Players of the Year have also been considered candidates for Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball and there has been two separate opportunities for coaches to provide input; one voting window to vote for KABC Players of the Year hosted by KABC and one nomination window to nominate candidates for Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball hosted by KLEF.Starting in 2026, coaches will no longer need to complete a separate nomination form to KLEF. Instead, the KABC Regional Player of the Year winners will automatically serve as the candidates for Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball. This keeps the process clear, fair, and saves valuable time for coaches.The final voting process to determine the winners of the 2026 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards will remain the same as previous years. After the KABC Players of the Year / Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Candidates are announced on Friday, February 20th, KLEF will email voting links to:
2026 Mr. and Miss KY Basketball Nomination / Voting Dates:
Voting information for the 2026 KABC Regional Players of the Year will be sent out by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches in February. For questions regarding the KABC Regional Players of the Year selection process, please contact Kayla VanHoose or Scott Chalk.
The Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation and the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches will coordinate and announce the KABC Regional Players of the Year / Mr. or Miss Kentucky Basketball Candidates on February 20, 2026. At that time, the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation will send out information for the voting in which coaches, media and previous recipients will select the top male and female candidate to become the 2026 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball recipients. The voting deadline will be Friday, February 27th.
The winners will be announced during the 2026 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa in Lexington, KY. Tickets are available to purchase now.
Please contact JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org with any questions.
If you are a member of the media covering high school basketball in Kentucky, please click here to sign up to receive our notifications and emails to ensure that you are able to participate in the selection process. Media members must be approved by nomination hosts and be affiliated with a legitimate media outlet.
*We do not have email address for ALL previous title recipients. If you know a previous award winner, please ask them to complete this form to share their email with us so that they can nominate/vote. Email JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org for more info.
Who is eligible to be nominated for Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball?
Any senior basketball player in a Kentucky high school who is in good academic standing and in good standing with the KHSAA.
vince dawson Great Crossing
Love Mays from Danville High School