2020 Kentucky Mr. and Miss Basketball finalists announced. See all 36 players.
Some of Kentucky’s best high school basketball players took another step toward sports immortality Friday as the nominees were announced for Kentucky’s Mr. and Miss Basketball honors.
The Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation streamed the announcement on its Facebook page Friday morning. Seventeen boys and 19 girls were nominated by coaches and media members. The announcement in conjunction with the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches also honors the nominees as KABC Region Players of the Year.. The same group will vote for the Mr. and Miss Basketball’s winners within the next week with the final announcement coming April 5.
Among the boys’ finalists are Henry Clay’s Marques Warrick, a Northern Kentucky commit averaging 22.3 points and 4.8 rebounds for a Blue Devils team that has surged with a 13-game win streak, including victories over top-10 teams John Hardin and Ballard in the last week.
From that John Hardin team, Alex Matthews also makes the list. He’s averaging 23.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs. He shares the 5th Region honor with Bardstown’s JJ Traynor, a Louisville commit. Also included was Madisonville wingman Kenny White, the team’s leading scorer with 18.9 per game, who recently committed to Tennessee Tech.
A leading contender for Miss Basketball will be Maddie Scherr, the 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year from defending KHSAA Sweet Sixteen champion Ryle. The Oregon commit averages 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds this season for a team that can still be considered favorites to come out of the 9th Region despite a tough schedule.
Out of Louisville came one of three ties on the girls’ side. Sacred Heart’s Erin Toller, a Kentucky commit, shares the 7th Region honor with Christian Academy-Louisville’s Shelby Calhoun, who has signed with Virginia Tech. Toller missed two seasons due to torn ACLs in each knee, but is having an outstanding senior campaign for the 25-1 Valkyries, averaging 16.8 points and 5.5. rebounds.
The 13th Region tie comes from the same team as South Laurel’s Ally Collett and Amerah Steele were both honored. Collett returned to action Thursday night after more than a month recovering from a partially torn PCL in her knee that threatened to end her high school career. She scored 15 points in the comeback. South Laurel cleaned up in the 13th with its Matt Cromer earning the boys’ honor.
From the 11th Region, Scott County’s Malea Williams, who averages a double double for the Cardinals, made the list.
The other tie came from the 3rd Region where Owensboro Catholic’s Hannah McKay shares the honor with Meade County’s Kendall Wingler, the leading scorer in the state (boys or girls) with 32.2 points per game.
Mr. Basketball has recognized the state’s best boys’ player since 1954 and Miss Basketball has honored the top girls’ player since 1976. It’s an award for seniors and the criteria for winning is up to the individual voter — some obviously showing deference to outstanding senior seasons while others use their ballot to recognize overall career achievements. Whatever the criteria, the awards are the subject of discussion, debate and celebration each year.
The winner will be announced at the 2020 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on April 5 at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa.
MR. BASKETBALL NOMINEES
1st Region: Jackson Sivills, McCracken County.
2nd Region: Kenny White, Madisonville.
3rd Region: Kaeveon Mitchell, Breckinridge County.
4th Region: DAndre Boyd, Warren Central.
5th Region: Alex Matthews, John Hardin; JJ Traynor, Bardstown.
6th Region: Trey Minter, Butler.
7th Region: Tyren Moore, Male.
8th Region: Dayvion McKnight, Collins.
9th Region: Grant Disken, Covington Catholic.
10th Region: Amirion Joyce, Bourbon County.
11th Region: Marques Warrick, Henry Clay.
12th Region: Brayden Sebastian, Garrard County.
13th Region: Matt Cromer, South Laurel.
14th Region: Joe Benton, Estill County.
15th Region: Cody Potter, Shelby Valley.
16th Region: Sam O’Keefe, Lewis County.
MISS BASKETBALL NOMINEES
1st Region: Charlee Settle, Calloway County.
2nd Region: Emilee Hope, Henderson County.
3rd Region: Hannah McKay, Owensboro Catholic; Kendall Wingler, Meade County.
4th Region: Elizabeth Bertram, Barren County.
5th Region: Whitney Hay, Elizabethtown.
6th Region: Ta’Ziah Jenks, Mercy.
7th Region: Erin Toller, Sacred Heart; Shelby Calhoun, Christian Academy-Louisville.
8th Region: Maggie Jones, Simon Kenton.
9th Region: Maddie Scherr, Ryle.
10th Region: Kennedy Igo, Clark County.
11th Region: Malea Williams, Scott County
12th Region: Lauren Lee, Casey County.
13th Region: Ally Collett, South Laurel, Amerah Steele, South Laurel.
14th Region: Lexy Meyers, Leslie County.
15th Region: Katlyn Ball, Belfry.
16th Region: Julia Parker, Ashland Blazer.
This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 10:44 AM.
