2021 Mr. Basketball Finalists

[Runcible Owl]

Sam inches closer to Ben in the poll.

An article in the Courier-Journal mentioned the award will be announced on April 18. I believe votes are cast before district play begins. Is this correct?

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

8 minutes ago, Runcible Owl said:

Sam inches closer to Ben in the poll.

An article in the Courier-Journal mentioned the award will be announced on April 18. I believe votes are cast before district play begins. Is this correct?

That was my understanding. Could be wrong though.

[Runcible Owl]

Sam Vinson stock is headed north!

[Runcible Owl]

We'll get a chance to watch five of the finalists this week at the Sweet 16.

Isaiah Mason, Bowling Green (vs University Heights)

Noah Dumas, McCracken Co. (vs Bullitt East)

Sam Vinson, Highlands (vs Muhlenberg Co.)

Nash Divine, Muhlenberg Co. (vs Highlands)

Jevonte Turner, Knox Central (vs Ashland)

 

[throwback32]

53 minutes ago, Runcible Owl said:

We'll get a chance to watch five of the finalists this week at the Sweet 16.

Isaiah Mason, Bowling Green (vs University Heights)

Noah Dumas, McCracken Co. (vs Bullitt East)

Sam Vinson, Highlands (vs Muhlenberg Co.)

Nash Divine, Muhlenberg Co. (vs Highlands)

Jevonte Turner, Knox Central (vs Ashland)

 

I have a feeling people across the state will have a much better appreciation for Sam Vinson after this week.

[Willy the whale]

How has Zion Harmon done this year? Hadn't heard much. Just curious. 

[The Flea Market]

How many games did Harmon play this year? I think this may hurt him in the vote? He is good!!!

[Runcible Owl]

Just dropping this here for no particular reason.

[throwback32]

Sam Vinson

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Everyone else.

[The Professor]

I’ve only seen Johnson play once, vs North Laurel in a streamed TV game. But after watching Vinson throughout his 4 state tournament games I would say Vinson by a good margin. Unfortunately for him though, the vote was before the state tournament. That needs to be changed next year. 

[TEDFROMVILLAHILLS]

Sam's done it all year and when it came time to step up his game even more, he did it. Would be a shame if he doesn't win it. Go Birds!

[Runcible Owl]

Mr. Football was shared for the first time this year. Could the same happen for Mr. Basketball? 

It's happened once before - 1958, when Ralph Richardson of Russell Co. and Harry Todd of Earlington shared the award.

[throwback32]

8 minutes ago, Runcible Owl said:

Mr. Football was shared for the first time this year. Could the same happen for Mr. Basketball? 

It's happened once before - 1958, when Ralph Richardson of Russell Co. and Harry Todd of Earlington shared the award.

It shouldn’t.  😂. Vinson deserves it.

[Runcible Owl]

On 4/5/2021 at 12:47 AM, The Professor said:

I’ve only seen Johnson play once, vs North Laurel in a streamed TV game. But after watching Vinson throughout his 4 state tournament games I would say Vinson by a good margin. Unfortunately for him though, the vote was before the state tournament. That needs to be changed next year.

I don't think that will happen, and it shouldn't because of one year. I've confirmed with a former voter that the ballots are cast before the Sweet 16, and have been since the award was started in 1954.

How would fans of mountain basketball have felt if Cawood's Phil Cox hadn't won it in '81? Troy McKinley of Simon Kenton is tournament MVP and the Pioneers bring home the 9th Region's first championship. Cox, like Lex Cath's Ben Johnson this year, never made a tournament appearance. This happens often.

1 hour ago, throwback32 said:

It shouldn’t.  😂. Vinson deserves it.

Just trying to keep the conversation lively 😃.  I voted for Sam in the poll above, and you "liked" when I bumped this thread a few weeks ago. I'm a fan, even if I prefer a different shade of blue.

Do you think Ross Neltner would've traded his '03 award for a chance to play in and win the tournament that year? Do you think Sam would?

I think the vote would've been close pre tournament. At that time, Johnson had more "exposure" from being on the top ranked team and the numbers he put up. Vinson showed out in the Sweet 16 after votes were cast.

Truth is, there isn't much of a correlation between being a great player on a title winning team and being awarded Mr. Basketball - it happens about 25% of the time. Winning the tournament MVP, the state championship, and Mr. Basketball trifecta is even rarer - it's only happened to a handful of players since the MVP award was revived in 1981. Again, I'm a fan of Sam. 

I wonder too, when there are now MaxPreps (which Sam has won) and Gatorade Players of the Year (which includes postseason performance), how relevant Mr. Basketball is today. Lots of folks in the Kentucky may know the history and the significance of winning Mr. Basketball, and I think that group skews older. The two newer awards don't always align with the older one either. MaxPreps and Gatorade have each have a big nationwide social media presence. Would more people recognize the winner of those awards as a more legitimate POY? How do today's players feel about it?

In the end, I wouldn't be surprised if either Johnson or Vinson wins Mr Basketball. Both have had great careers, and both have bright futures.

And remember again please, I'm a Vinson fan. 🤓

[Jack of all Trades]

As expected, Sam Vinson got the snub for a kid from Lexington.