Final Mr. Basketball Preview and Prediction

<p>The regular season is over. District champions are cutting nets down all over the state and we're less than 3 weeks away from crowning 2020's Kentucky Mr. Basketball. Here's a preview of the nominees and some predictions. I included their regular season points and rebounds per game as well as their team's final record. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Finalists </strong></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">(listed by region):</span></p> <p>First Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jackson-sivills/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jackson-sivills/">Jackson Sivills</a></a>, McCracken County; 21.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game; 26-5 record. Murray State Signee.</p> <p>Second Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kenny-white/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kenny-white/">Kenny White</a></a>, Madisonville-North Hopkins; 18.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game; 27-3 record. Tennessee Tech Commit.</p> <p>Third Region - Kaeveon Mitchell, Breckinridge County; 23.9 points and 6 rebounds; 19-9 record.</p> <p>Fourth Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dre-boyd/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dre-boyd/">Dre Boyd</a></a>, Warren Central; 18.2 points and 7 rebounds; 23-6 record. </p> <p>Fifth Region (tie) - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-matthews/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-matthews/">Alex Matthews</a></a>, John Hardin; 23.2 points and 10.5 rebounds; 29-3 record and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jj-traynor/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jj-traynor/">JJ Traynor</a></a>, Bardstown; 19.6 points and 11 rebounds; 22-8 record. Louisville Signee.</p> <p>Sixth Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-minter/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-minter/">Trey Minter</a></a>, Butler; 15.2 points and 2.2 rebounds; 19-9 record.</p> <p>Seventh Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tyren-moore/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tyren-moore/">Tyren Moore</a></a>, Male; 18.2 points and 4.3 rebounds; 28-4 record.</p> <p>Eighth Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dayvion-mcknight/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dayvion-mcknight/">Dayvion McKnight</a></a>, Collins; 20.2 points and 7.7 rebounds. 23-7 record. Western Kentucky Signee.</p> <p>Ninth Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-disken/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/grant-disken/">Grant Disken</a></a>, Covington Catholic; 16.5 points and 2.6 rebounds. 25-5 record.</p> <p>Tenth Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/amirion-joyce/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/amirion-joyce/">Amirion Joyce</a></a>, Bourbon County; 20.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. 24-6 record.</p> <p>Eleventh Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/marques-warrick/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/marques-warrick/">Marques Warrick</a></a>, Henry Clay; 22.3 points and 4.6 rebounds. 24-6 record. Northern Kentucky Signee.</p> <p>Twelfth Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brayden-sebastian/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brayden-sebastian/">Brayden Sebastian</a></a>, Garrard County; 26.6 points and 8.6 rebounds; 10-19 record (Sebastian missed 11 games) Campbellsville Signee.</p> <p>Thirteenth Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matt-cromer/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matt-cromer/">Matt Cromer</a></a>, South Laurel. 25.3 points and 8.4 rebounds; 26-4 record.</p> <p>Fourteenth Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/joe-benton/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/joe-benton/">Joe Benton</a></a>, Estill County; 18.4 points and 9.1 rebounds; 21-10 record. Eastern Kentucky Golf Signee.</p> <p>Fifteenth Region - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cody-potter/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cody-potter/">Cody Potter</a></a>, Shelby Valley; 24.9 points and 9.8 rebounds. 24-7 record. Rollins College Signee.</p> <p>Sixteenth Region - Sam O'Keefe, Lewis County; 23 points and 10.3 rebounds; 15-15 record.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Predictions:</span></strong></p> <p>2020 Mr. Basketball: <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dayvion-mcknight/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dayvion-mcknight/">Dayvion McKnight</a></a>, Collins - Before screaming bias (Dayvion played AAU for me for 2 years), hear me out. McKnight has been a known commodity in the class for longer than most of the other nominees. He started as a freshman for the Collins team that got to Rupp Arena. He played all over the state this year to increase his profile among voters and his high school coach and the school itself did a good job of campaigning for Dayvion among voters. He owns every school record at Collins and has had a great Senior season. I think he wins but I think it could be very close and Warrick could definitely win it.</p> <p>Runner-Up - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/marques-warrick/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/marques-warrick/">Marques Warrick</a></a>, Henry Clay - Ques helped Henry Clay to 18 straight wins. Their only loss in the 2020 calendar year was the thrilling 2OT game this week which they lost to Frederick Douglass. Even in that loss, Warrick put up nearly 50 points. His profile statewide is hurt by the fact that Clay never played in the King of the Bluegrass or Traditional Bank Classic in his Senior year. Their biggest wins (against Ballard and John Hardin) happened after most had already voted for the award. I do think that Marques could certainly win the award and would be a VERY worthy winner but I do think the lack of his exposure to voters state-wide hurts his chances. </p> <p>In the Mix - <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-matthews/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-matthews/">Alex Matthews</a></a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kenny-white/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kenny-white/">Kenny White</a></a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jackson-sivills/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jackson-sivills/">Jackson Sivills</a></a>. Any of the 3 could realistically win the award. Matthews has had maybe the best career out of any nominee on the list. White had a huge 2 game run at Rupp last season and left an impression on voters while on the biggest stage. Sivills, like Matthews, has had a huge career but hasn't had the same amount of promotion of any of kids like McKnight, Warrick and Matthews. I could see any of the 3 winning the award.</p> <p>Congratulations to all 17 finalists! Looking forward to seeing who wins the award!</p>