2023 Kentucky Mr. Basketball finalists announced. See all 20 players.

Lexington Catholic’s Reece Potter and Madison Central’s Jaylen Davis were among 20 boys’ high school basketball seniors who earned region player of the year honors Friday and with it a nomination for the sport’s highest individual honor, the 2023 Mr. Basketball award.

Of course, also among the honorees was North Laurel’s Reed Sheppard, a Kentucky signee and one of the top class of 2023 recruits in the nation. Sheppard’s exploits as point guard and 3,000-point scorer for the defending 13th Region champion Jaguars and his notoriety as a heralded UK recruit make him the prohibitive favorite for this year’s Mr. Basketball.

But with two other 3,000-plus point career scorers in the mix — Covington Holy Cross’s Jacob Meyer, who has led the state in scoring each of the last two seasons, and Owen County’s Teagan Moore, a Western Kentucky commit, and other standouts like George Rogers Clark’s Jerone Morton, Pikeville’s Rylee Samons and Ballard’s Gabe Sisk — the award might not be a foregone conclusion.

The honorees were announced Friday morning by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation via its social media channels, including Facebook. In conjunction with the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches, the KLEF conducts a survey each year of coaches and media for the region player of the year awards in advance of a separate vote later this month by the same for Mr. Basketball.

Potter, a 7-foot center committed to Miami (Ohio), leads No. 2 Lexington Catholic in both scoring and rebounding with 18.1 points and nine rebounds per game. Davis, a 6-foot-5 guard who has received a college offer from Eastern Kentucky, helped the Indians reach the 2021 Boys’ Sweet 16 as a sophomore.

The 11th Region was one of four regions this year to split the player of the year honor between two players. In the 2nd Region, Madisonville’s TaMarcus Eaves and Henderson County’s Gerard Thomas were recognized. In the 9th Region, it was shared by Covington Catholic’s Evan Ipsaro and Covington Holy Cross’s Meyer. In the 10th Region, Mason County’s Terrell Henry and George Rogers Clark’s Morton were recognized.

Notable snubs included North Oldham’s Dallas Roberts and Murray’s Grant Whitaker, two players who helped their respective teams to Sweet 16 berths last year.

Mr. Basketball and other honors will be announced at the 12th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on March 19 at the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington.

North Laurel’s Reed Sheppard, the player of the year in the 13th Region, has signed to play at the University of Kentucky next season.

Covington Holy Cross guard Jacob Meyer is the leading scorer in Kentucky.

Mr. Basketball finalists

The 2023 KABC region players of the year with school, height, position, this season’s points per game through Wednesday and (college choice).

1st Region: Jack McCune, McCracken County, 6-4 forward, 18.6 ppg (Undecided).

2nd Region: TaMarcus Eaves, Madisonville, 6-5 guard, 19.9 ppg (Undecided); Gerard Thomas, Henderson County, 6-3 guard, 18.4 ppg (Undecided).

3rd Region: Brian Griffith, Owensboro Catholic, 5-10 guard, 21.2 ppg (Undecided).

4th Region: Chappelle Whitney, Warren Central, 6-5 forward, 16.7 ppg (Undecided).

5th Region: Carson Childress, LaRue County, 6-1 guard, 14.6 ppg (Campbellsville — golf).

6th Region: Keith Robinson, Pleasure Ridge Park, 6-4 guard, 18.9 ppg (Undecided).

7th Region: Gabe Sisk, Ballard, 6-6 guard, 23.4 ppg (Undecided).

8th Region: Teagan Moore, Owen County, 6-5 forward, 30.9 ppg (Western Kentucky).

9th Region: Evan Ipsaro, Covington Catholic, 5-11 guard, 25.2 ppg (Miami of Ohio); Jacob Meyer, Covington Holy Cross, 6-3 guard, 36.8 ppg (Undecided).

10th Region: Terrell Henry, Mason County, 6-4 guard, 17.6 ppg (Undecided); Jerone Morton, George Rogers Clark, 6-4 guard, 19.8 ppg (Morehead State).

11th Region: Reece Potter, Lexington Catholic, 7-0 center, 18.1 ppg (Miami of Ohio); Jaylen Davis, Madison Central, 6-5 guard, 22 ppg (Undecided).

12th Region: Kyle Stephens, McCreary Central, 6-4 forward, 20.9 ppg (Undecided).

13th Region: Reed Sheppard, North Laurel, 6-3 guard, 21.8 ppg (Kentucky).

14th Region: Sawyer Thompson, Wolfe County, 6-2 guard, 21.7 ppg (Undecided).

15th Region: Rylee Samons, Pikeville, 6-6 forward, 23.4 ppg (Tennessee Tech).

16th Region: Zachary Otis, Bath County, 5-10 guard, 27 ppg (Undecided).

Lexington Catholic’s Reece Potter shared the 11th Region player of the year award with Jaylen Davis of Madison Central.

Jaylen Davis of Madison Central shared the 11th Region player of the year award with Lexington Catholic’s Reece Potter.

About the awards

Mr. Basketball has recognized the state’s best boys’ player since 1954. It’s an award for seniors, and the criteria for winning is up to the individual voter — some 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 awards ceremony will also include presentations for the winners of Miss Basketball, the Donna L.J. Murphy Award, the Wah Wah Jones Award and the William “Mr. Wildcat” Bill Keightley Award.