UK signee Fox, E-town’s Boley among Naismith player of the year finalists

UK men’s basketball signee De’Aaron Fox and Elizabethtown High School star Erin Boley are among the finalists for Naismith player of the year honors.

Fox — a 6-foot-4 point guard from Katy, Texas — committed to the Wildcats in November and is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2016, behind only uncommitted wing player Josh Jackson, who is also a Naismith finalist.

The other three finalists for the Naismith boys’ player of the year award are UCLA signee Lonzo Ball, Michigan State signee Miles Bridges and Duke signee Jayson Tatum.

Boley — a 6-2 forward who has signed with Notre Dame — is one of five finalists for the Naismith girls’ player of the year award, along with Baylor signee Lauren Cox, UConn signee Crystal Dangerfield, Texas signee Joyner Holmes and Notre Dame signee Jackie Young.

The winners will be announced March 10.

Ron Mercer remains the only UK men’s player to ever win Naismith player of the year honors. Southern High School standout Lisa Harrison won the girls’ award in 1989 and remains the only Kentuckian to earn the honor.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 2:09 PM with the headline "UK signee Fox, E-town’s Boley among Naismith player of the year finalists."