The Kentucky Mr. Basketball honor recognizes the top high school senior basketball player in the state of Kentucky.
The first Kentucky Mr. Basketball was "King" Kelly Coleman of Wayland High School in 1956.
The winner of the Mr. Basketball award wears #1 on his jersey in the summer all-star series against the Indiana High School All-Stars.
The Kentucky Mr. Basketball award is the third oldest such award in the nation; only Indiana Mr. Basketball and California Mr. Basketball, which were first awarded in 1939 and 1950, respectively, predate it.
[1][2][3] The award is presented annually by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation.