Top 10: Nick Mingione edges Travis Perry for second in Kentucky Sports Figure award voting
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2024 Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year
The Lexington Herald-Leader revealed the winner of its 44th annual Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year award on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Click below to read more about the winner of the 2024 honor, view the complete voting totals and see reaction from the media members who contributed to the balloting.
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Watch: Lexington Herald-Leader reveals 2024 Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year award winner
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the 2024 Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year
Top 10: Nick Mingione edges Travis Perry for second in Kentucky Sports Figure award voting
See all 80 people, 3 horses who received votes for 2024 Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year
From ZaKiyah Johnson to Trent Noah, what KY Sports Figure voters said about finishers 11-25
The top 10 finishers in voting for the 2024 Lexington Herald-Leader Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year Award:
1. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Did you know? The former University of Kentucky and current international track star has not lost a women’s 400-meter hurdles race since Oct. 4, 2019.
What the voters said: “The GOAT further cemented her GOAT status with two more Olympic gold medals and another world record that she herself keeps on breaking.” — Michael Epps, WDKY-TV
“Two Olympics gold medals (in two events), two title defenses (from the previous Olympics) and individually setting a world record (for the sixth time) are the year’s top overall accomplishment” in Kentucky sports. — Brad Laux, 10/16 Sports
Sports Figure factoid: Since 2018, McLaughlin-Levrone has finished in the top 10 in the voting four times.
2. Nick Mingione
Did you know? Over the past two seasons, the UK baseball coach has led the Wildcats to an 86-35 overall record, including 38-22 in the SEC and 10-5 in NCAA Tournament games.
What the voters said: “It is not easy for a northern-most SEC school like Kentucky to reach all the way to the College World Series, but the Cats somehow did it under superb leadership of coach Nick Mingione. A stunning achievement!” — Jamie Vaught, KySportsStyle.com
“What Nick has accomplished in his tenure as coach of the Wildcats has been nothing short of remarkable. Reaching the College World Series was icing on the cake.” — Keith Taylor, KentuckyToday.com
Sports Figure factoid: Mingione’s second-place finish is the highest for a college baseball coach (John Cohen was third in 2006).
3. Travis Perry
Did you know? The state title-winning Lyon County star not only finished his career as Kentucky boys basketball’s all-time leading scorer (5,481 points) but also as the state’s career leader in made 3-pointers (712) and free throws (933).
What the voters said: “Perry’s historic point total wasn’t just built on catch-and-shoot plays. A relentless competitor with a tireless motor, he hustled, he defended, and he helped will one of the state’s smallest schools to the Boys’ Sweet 16 state championship.” — Jared Peck, Lexington Herald-Leader
Travis Perry “embodies Kentucky in every way, shape and form with his on the court success and character.” — William Muiter, Paducah Sun
Sports Figure factoid: Perry’s back-to-back finishes of first (2023) and third (2024) are the best since Lamar Jackson was first (2016) and second (2017).
4. Kenny McPeek
Did you know? Before McPeek won both the Kentucky Oaks (Thorpedo Anna) and the Kentucky Derby (Mystik Dan) in 2024, the last horse trainer to win both races in the same year was the venerable Ben Jones of Calumet Farm in 1952.
What the voters said: “While nearly every great horse racing story has ties to Kentucky, Kenny grew up locally and has trained here throughout his career. To sweep the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby in the same year is a special accomplishment.” — Frank Angst, BloodHorse
“McPeek carved out a slice of history during the one weekend when the entire sporting world is fixated on the commonwealth by ‘coaching’ the great Thorpedo Anna to victory in the Kentucky Oaks and then following it up with Mystik Dan, an 18-1 shot, winning the roses in the Kentucky Derby.” — Dick Gabriel, WLAP-AM 630
Sports Figure factoid: McPeek’s fourth-place finish ties Mack Miller (fourth in 1993) for the best by a thoroughbred horse trainer.
5. Lee Kiefer
Did you know? After taking Olympic gold medals in women’s individual and team foil fencing in 2024, Lexington’s Kiefer, 30, is the only American fencer to have won three career Olympic gold medals.
What the voters said: “Lee Kiefer is the BEST EVER in America for women’s fencing … Lee does it with class. Lee has stood the test of time for being GREAT for a long time.” — Alan Cutler, WLXG-AM 1300, FM 92.5
Lee Kiefer “has dominated her sport the last five years. Kiefer is also a great ambassador for her sport … what she has done is simply mind-boggling.” — Larry Vaught, Vaughtsviews.com
Sports Figure factoid: The 11 first-place votes Kiefer received in 2024 were the same number she received in 2021, when she also finished fifth in the voting after earning her first Olympic gold medal.
6. Reed Sheppard
Did you know? In his one-and-done season as a Kentucky Wildcats guard, Sheppard produced the second-most steals (82) and the 28th-most assists (148) by a UK men’s player in a single season.
What the voters said: “Reed Sheppard’s fairy tale had one misstep with Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Oakland, but the Laurel County native still ended up being a top-three NBA draft pick, living out the dream of kids across the Bluegrass.” — Tyler Thompson, Kentucky Sports Radio
“One of the most popular UK basketball players in recent memory. His ascension from potential role player to No. 3 pick in the NBA draft was remarkable.” — Lachlan McLean, Spectrum News 1
Sports Figure factoid: Sheppard’s back-to-back finishes of second (2023) and sixth (2024) are the best in his family’s history. The best finishes for his basketball star parents were seventh for Jeff Sheppard in 1998 and 25th for Stacey Reed in 1991.
7. Lamar Jackson
Did you know? In the 2024 season, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback and former Louisville Cardinals star became the first player in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards (4,172) and run for over 900 yards (915).
What the voters said: “Jackson is incredible, being able to use his legs and arms to change a game. He’s almost impossible to stop at times.” — Conor Revell, former editor of Louisville Catholic Sports Network
“No more needs be said, (Jackson’s) reinvented the quarterback position.” — Dan Weber, Northern Kentucky Tribune
Sports Figure factoid: This is Jackson’s sixth top-10 finish since 2016.
8. Walker Buehler
Did you know? The now-former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher ended his L.A. career with a record of 47-22 — and two (2020 and 2024) World Series championship rings. The Henry Clay alumnus will be pitching for Boston in 2025.
What the voters said: “Walker Buehler was ‘Mr. Clutch’ in the World Series.” — Rufus Friday, formerly of the Lexington Herald-Leader
“Lexington’s own put on a masterful postseason performance, earning the final out of the World Series.” — Lee K. Howard, WKYT-TV
Sports Figure factoid: Since 2018, Buehler has four top-10 finishes.
9. Dani Busboom Kelly
Did you know? Over the past four women’s volleyball seasons, Busboom Kelly has coached Louisville to a 119-15 mark with three NCAA Tournament Final Fours and two trips to the national title match.
What the voters said: “Dani has turned Louisville into a volleyball powerhouse. She had a team that could have been burdened by extremely high expectations, but she kept them focused and free-spirited all the way to the (NCAA) championship match.” — Paul Rogers, Louisville Cardinals football and men’s basketball radio play-by-play announcer
Busboom Kelly “helped Louisville stay competitive in the national title game, despite being without arguably its best player (an injured Anna DeBeer). Cemented herself, if she hadn’t already, as one of the best coaches in the sport.” — Nick Curran, Louisville Bats and U of L Cardinals women’s basketball radio play-by-play announcer
Sports Figure factoid: Having finished seventh in 2022, Busboom Kelly is the first college volleyball coach with multiple top-10 finishes.
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Did you know? In 2023-24, the former Kentucky Wildcats guard just missed becoming the first ex-UK player to win the NBA MVP Award. After averaging 30.1 points for Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander finished second behind Nikola Jokic in the MVP balloting.
What the voters said: Gilgeous-Alexander went “from sixth man coming off the bench at UK to become one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers.” — Beau Robinson, WLAP-AM 630
“Could argue he should have been the MVP; (Gilgeous-Alexander) helped lead OKC back to the top of the league.” — Cole Scott, WNKY-TV, Bowling Green
Sports Figure factoid: Since 2020, Gilgeous-Alexander is the third NBA player from UK to finish in the top 10 (Anthony Davis third in 2020 and Jamal Murray eighth in 2023).
This story was originally published January 28, 2025 at 9:11 AM.
