Minnesota Mr. Basketball
![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Lipofsky-Kevin_McHale.jpg/170px-Lipofsky-Kevin_McHale.jpg)
Minnesota Mr. Basketball is an annual award recognizing excellence in Minnesota boys' high school basketball. The female equivalent is Minnesota Miss Basketball.
The award's legitimacy was challenged in February 2017 when Henry Sibley, Minnesota high school basketball coach John Carrier called out owner and chairman Ken Lien for his politicized anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant tweets from the @mrbasketballmn Twitter account. The Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association was among many who announced their support of Carrier's complaint.[1][2][3]
The award was established in 1975 and is given to the person(s) chosen as the best high school boys' basketball senior in the U.S. state of Minnesota.[4] The award is the fourth oldest such award in the nation; only Indiana Mr. Basketball, California Mr. Basketball, and Kentucky Mr. Basketball, which were first awarded in 1939, 1950, and 1956, respectively, predate it.[5][6][7][8] A nine-member selection committee,[9] headed by Ken Lien since 1977,[10] has selected five finalists in March of every year since the award began.[9] Those five finalists are chosen from a larger pool of 15 finalists picked in January, and the winner of the award is named in April. In order to select the most deserving student-athlete, the selection panel watches over 120 high school basketball games and creates detailed reviews on every one of them.[11] The winner is then invited to an honorary dinner, along with the Minnesota Miss Basketball selection.[10] Twice the panel chose two winners, in 1979 and 1998.
The first award winner was Gene Glynn, who attended Waseca High School in Waseca, Minnesota. He played for Mankato State University, now known as Minnesota State University.[4]
Six recipients of the Minnesota Mr. Basketball award were enrolled at Hopkins High School and Minneapolis North High School, the most of any high school. Most recipients go to Division I universities, with a high of 17 attending the University of Minnesota. Glynn, the 1975 winner; Jim Jensen, the 1978 winner; Steve Schlotthauer, the 1986 winner; Tom Conroy, the 1989 winner; Joel McDonald, the 1991 winner; and Bret Yonke, the 1992 winner, all attended Division II schools. Conroy attended Northeastern Illinois University, which upgraded to Division I in 1991, his sophomore year.[12] Yonke began his career at Division I Northwestern and later transferred to Division II St. Cloud State due to lack of playing time.[13] The 1981 winner, Redd Overton, never attended a university and chose the junior college route instead.
Several former Minnesota Mr. Basketballs have been selected in the National Basketball Association Draft. Kevin McHale, the 1976 choice; Randy Breuer, the 1979 co-choice; Sam Jacobson, the 1994 choice; Joel Przybilla, the 1998 co-choice; and Kris Humphries, the 2003 choice, were picked in the first round. Kevin Lynch, the 1987 choice; Khalid El-Amin, the 1997 choice; and 2001 choice Rick Rickert were picked in the second round. Jim Petersen, the 1980 choice, was the only pick in the now obsolete third round. Chet Holmgren was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, making him the highest-selected draft pick ever taken out of Gonzaga[14] and the highest-drafted pick from the state of Minnesota, topping Kevin McHale, who was taken third overall in 1980.[15]
Award winners
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![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/20120303_Royce_White_on_the_bench.jpg/170px-20120303_Royce_White_on_the_bench.jpg)
Most winners
[edit]See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ In 1979, two Minnesota Mr. Basketballs were named.[4]
- ^ Overton never attended a university. He enrolled and played at a junior college.[4]
- ^ In 1998, two Minnesota Mr. Basketballs were named.[37]
- ^ White signed with Minnesota, however, he transferred to Iowa State in July 2010 before playing a game with the Golden Gophers.[50]
References
[edit]- ^ Frederick, Jace (February 12, 2017). "Minnesota Mr. Basketball chairman under fire after controversial tweet". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ Klauda, Paul (February 13, 2017). "Mr. Minnesota Basketball Award account's tweet draws ire". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ Paulsen, Jim (February 13, 2017). "Mr. Basketball Award chair's apology for tweet about Muslims isn't enough for some". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Gopher Notebook". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. April 19, 1988. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ Mr. Basketball
- ^ California Mr. Basketball
- ^ Indiana Mr. Basketball
- ^ Kentucky Mr. Basketball
- ^ a b Augustoviz, Roman (March 11, 1997). "5 finalists named for Mr. Basketball award". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ a b "Dahlman, Smith honored". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. May 1, 2006. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ a b Walsh, Paul (April 7, 2009). "Minnesota's Mr. Basketball: Royce White of Hopkins". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. Archived from the original on April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ Sherman, Ed (March 8, 1991). "Added fee weighs on Northeastern". The Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
- ^ a b "River Falls Begins With Impressive Wins". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. September 15, 1993. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ Mussatto, Joe (June 23, 2022). "NBA Draft 2022: OKC Thunder selects Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren with No. 2 overall pick". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ "Chet Holmgren, taken second overall, is highest drafted Minnesotan in NBA history". Star Tribune. June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ "McHale Grew Into Star Role Hibbing Native to Enter Hall on Friday". Duluth News-Tribune. Forum Communications. September 30, 1999. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ "1980 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ a b "1983 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ "Lynx Hire Petersen as Assistant". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. November 19, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "1984 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ "Wadkins Holds On To Win Golf Meet". The Milwaukee Journal. Journal Communications. April 25, 1983. Retrieved August 19, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Ex-Mr. Basketball starts anew as 11th man". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. March 12, 1986. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "After Title-Tie Last Year, St. Cloud State Wants More". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. December 9, 1989. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "Meet Kevin Lynch". NBA. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "1991 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "New Ulm coach hits 400". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. April 13, 1989. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "Boston Pleased With Job Wacker is Doing So Far". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. September 2, 1994. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ Schuster, Ryan (October 9, 1996). "Kolander enjoys life after U hoops". Minnesota Daily. University of Minnesota.
- ^ "McDonald Named Mr. Basketball". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. April 29, 1991. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "Money Isn't Everything to Minnesota's Woog". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. January 23, 1996. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "Sam Jacobson bio". Minnesota Golden Gophers. University of Minnesota. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "1998 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "Mestas Stretches Truth in Short Story". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. March 14, 1997. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "James Must Return October 7 for Sentencing". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. September 25, 1997. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ^ "El-Amin Chooses UConn". St. Paul Pioneer Press. April 26, 1997. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ a b "2000 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ a b c Wicker, Brian (February 23, 2000). "Separate agendas; Joel Przybilla and Darius Lane, rivals in high school, have chosen their own routes". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ "Horvath Salutes Humphries' Talent". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. May 23, 2003. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ "Adam Boone bio". Minnesota Golden Gophers. University of Minnesota. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ "Rickert, Calhoun honored". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. April 30, 2001. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ "2003 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ "Player Bio: Stephen King". Ohio Bobcats. Ohio University. Archived from the original on March 12, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ Buckley, Tim (January 29, 2005). "A homecoming for Humphries". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ "2004 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ Stensaas, Brian (December 29, 2004). "High school stars making most of Golden years; Chaska legend Tallackson set to assume key role for Gophers". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ "Player Bio: Travis Busch". Colorado State Rams. Colorado State University. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
- ^ Miller, Phil (March 18, 2010). "A Minnesota family's NCAA reunion". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. Retrieved August 8, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Forde, Pat (March 15, 2008). "Minnesota's miracle worker makes his second shot for the ages". ESPN. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ Medcalf, Myron P. (January 15, 2009). "U's Smith retaliates vs. Wisconsin's talent raids". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. Retrieved August 5, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Minnesota standout Royce White signs with Iowa St". CBS Sports. Associated Press. July 12, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ Hickman, Dave (June 29, 2010). "Noreen fell right into Huggins' lap". The Charleston Gazette. Charleston, West Virginia. Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ Leighton, Tim (March 30, 2011). "Hopkins' Joe Coleman selected Minnesota's Mr. Basketball". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
- ^ Reusse, Patrick. "Hopkins' Siyani Chambers selected as Mr. Basketball". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^ Paulsen, Jim (March 26, 2013). "North Suburban Conference dissolves; Quinton Hooker is Mr. Basketball". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ^ Leighton, Tim (March 20, 2014). "High schools: Tyus Jones is Mr. Minnesota Basketball". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ^ Davis, Matthew (March 16, 2015). "High schools: JT Gibson of Champlin Park named Mr. Basketball". Minnesota Sun Post. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ Stavenhagen, Cody (March 14, 2016). "Hopkins' Amir Coffey named Mr. Minnesota Basketball". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ Stavenhagen, Cody (March 26, 2017). "Champlin Park's McKinley Wright named Mr. Minnesota Basketball". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- ^ Nelson, Joe (March 29, 2022). "Gopher commit Braeden Carrington named Mr. Basketball in Minnesota". SI.com. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ Haggstrom, Ron (March 30, 2023). "DeLaSalle point guard adds another honor". Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ Jacobson, John (March 29, 2024). "WAYZATA'S MCANDREW NAMED MR. BASKETBALL, PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN MINNESOTA". CCX Media. Retrieved April 1, 2024.