Minnesota Mr. Basketball

Minnesota Mr. Basketball is an annual award recognizing excellence in Minnesota boys' high school basketball. The female equivalent is Minnesota Miss Basketball.

Kevin McHale (right) was the recipient of the award in 1976.

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]

Four 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. McHale, drafted by the Boston Celtics with the third overall pick in the 1980 NBA draft, is the highest-drafted Minnesota Mr. Basketball winner. He went on to have a successful NBA career, winning three NBA championships with the Celtics (1981, 1984, 1986) and being inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.[14]

Award winners
Joel Przybilla (center, in black) was the co-recipient of the award in 1998.
Kris Humphries was the recipient of the award in 2003.
Royce White was the recipient of the award in 2009.
Tyus Jones was the 2013 recipient.
Year Player High school University NBA Draft
1975 Gene Glynn Waseca High School, Waseca Minnesota State[4]
1976 Kevin McHale Hibbing High School, Hibbing Minnesota[15] McHale was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 1st round with the 3rd pick of the 1980 NBA draft.[16]
1977 Brian Pederson Prior Lake High School, Prior Lake Minnesota[4]
1978 Jim Jensen Bemidji High School, Bemidji South Dakota State[4]
1979 Randy Breuer Lake City High School, Lake City[4] Minnesota[17] Breuer was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1st round with the 18th pick of the 1983 NBA draft.[17]
1979 Greg Downing[note 1] Duluth Central High School, Duluth Nebraska[4]
1980 Jim Petersen St. Louis Park High School, St. Louis Park Minnesota[18] Petersen was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 3rd round with the 4th pick (51st overall) of the 1984 NBA draft.[19]
1981 Redd Overton Minneapolis North High School, Minneapolis None[note 2]
1982 Rob Shelquist Irondale High School, New Brighton Montana State[4]
1983 Tom Copa Coon Rapids High School, Coon Rapids Marquette[20]
1984 Tim Hanson Prior Lake High School, Prior Lake Minnesota[4]
1985 Brett McNeal Minneapolis North High School, Minneapolis Western Kentucky[21]
1986 Steve Schlotthauer Mounds View High School, Mounds View Augustana (SD)[22]
1987 Kevin Lynch Bloomington Jefferson High School, Bloomington Minnesota[23] Lynch was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2nd round with the 1st pick (28th overall) of the 1991 NBA draft.[24]
1988 Derek Reuben Minneapolis North High School, Minneapolis Eastern Kentucky[25]
1989 Tom Conroy DeLaSalle High School, Minneapolis Northeastern Illinois[26]
1990 Chad Kolander Owatonna High School, Owatonna Minnesota[27]
1991 Joel McDonald Chisholm High School, Chisholm St. Cloud State[28]
1992 Bret Yonke Eagan High School, Eagan Northwestern/St. Cloud State[13]
1993 Skipp Schaefbauer Elk River High School, Elk River East Carolina/Illinois State[29]
1994 Sam Jacobson Park High School, Cottage Grove Minnesota[30] Jacobson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1st round with the 26th pick of the 1998 NBA draft.[31]
1995 Robert Mestas Minneapolis Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis Miami (OH)[32]
1996 Mitch Ohnstad Faribault High School, Faribault Cal Poly/Minnesota[33]
1997 Khalid El-Amin Minneapolis North High School, Minneapolis Connecticut[34] El-Amin was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 2nd round with the 5th pick (34th overall) of the 2000 NBA draft.[35]
1998 Darius Lane Totino-Grace High School, Fridley Seton Hall[36]
1998 Joel Przybilla[note 3] Monticello High School, Monticello Minnesota[36] Przybilla was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 1st round with the 9th pick of the 2000 NBA draft.[35]
1999 Nick Horvath Mounds View High School, Mounds View Duke[37]
2000 Adam Boone Minnetonka High School, Minnetonka North Carolina/Minnesota[38]
2001 Rick Rickert Duluth East High School, Duluth Minnesota[39] Rickert was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2nd round with the 26th pick (55th overall) of the 2003 NBA draft.[40]
2002 Stephen King Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield Ohio[41]
2003 Kris Humphries Hopkins High School, Minnetonka Minnesota[42] Humphries was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the 1st round with the 14th pick of the 2004 NBA draft.[43]
2004 Spencer Tollackson Chaska High School, Chaska Minnesota[44]
2005 Travis Busch Mounds View High School, Mounds View Cal Poly/Minnesota/Colorado State[45]
2006 Isaiah Dahlman Braham High School, Braham Michigan State[46]
2007 Blake Hoffarber Hopkins High School, Minnetonka Minnesota[47]
2008 Jordan Taylor Benilde-St. Margaret's School, St. Louis Park Wisconsin[48]
2009 Royce White Hopkins High School, Minnetonka[11] Minnesota/Iowa State[note 4] White was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the first round with the sixteenth pick of the 2012 NBA draft.
2010 Kevin Noreen Minnesota Transitions School, Minneapolis West Virginia[50]
2011 Joe Coleman Hopkins High School, Minnetonka Minnesota[51]
2012 Siyani Chambers Hopkins High School, Minnetonka Harvard[52]
2013 Quinton Hooker Park Center Senior High School, Brooklyn Park North Dakota[53]
2014 Tyus Jones Apple Valley High School, Apple Valley Duke[54] Jones was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 24th pick of the 2015 NBA draft and traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night.
2015 JT Gibson Champlin Park High School, Brooklyn Park Omaha[55]
2016 Amir Coffey Hopkins High School, Minnetonka Minnesota[56]
2017 McKinley Wright Champlin Park High School, Brooklyn Park Colorado[57]
2018 Tre Jones Apple Valley High School, Apple Valley Duke Jones was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 41st pick (2nd Round) of the 2020 NBA Draft.
2019 Matthew Hurt John Marshall High School, Rochester Duke
2020 Jalen Suggs Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis Gonzaga

Most winners

See also

Notes
  1. In 1979, two Minnesota Mr. Basketballs were named.[4]
  2. Overton never attended a university. He enrolled at a junior college for two years.[4]
  3. In 1998, two Minnesota Mr. Basketballs were named.[36]
  4. White signed with Minnesota, however, he transferred to Iowa State in July 2010 before playing a game with the Golden Gophers.[49]

References
  1. Frederick, Jace (February 12, 2017). "Minnesota Mr. Basketball chairman under fire after controversial tweet". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  2. Klauda, Paul (February 13, 2017). "Mr. Minnesota Basketball Award account's tweet draws ire". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  3. 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.
  4. "Gopher Notebook". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. April 19, 1988. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  5. Mr. Basketball
  6. California Mr. Basketball
  7. Indiana Mr. Basketball
  8. Kentucky Mr. Basketball
  9. 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.
  10. "Dahlman, Smith honored". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. May 1, 2006. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  11. 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.
  12. Sherman, Ed (March 8, 1991). "Added fee weighs on Northeastern". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  13. "River Falls Begins With Impressive Wins". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. September 15, 1993. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  14. "Kevin E. McHale". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  15. "McHale Grew Into Star Role Hibbing Native to Enter Hall on Friday". Duluth News-Tribune. Forum Communications. September 30, 1999. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  16. "1980 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  17. "1983 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  18. "Lynx Hire Petersen as Assistant". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. November 19, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  19. "1984 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  20. "Wadkins Holds On To Win Golf Meet". The Milwaukee Journal. Journal Communications. April 25, 1983. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  21. "Ex-Mr. Basketball starts anew as 11th man". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. March 12, 1986. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  22. "After Title-Tie Last Year, St. Cloud State Wants More". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. December 9, 1989. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  23. "Meet Kevin Lynch". NBA. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  24. "1991 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  25. "New Ulm coach hits 400". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. April 13, 1989. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  26. "Boston Pleased With Job Wacker is Doing So Far". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. September 2, 1994. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  27. Schuster, Ryan (October 9, 1996). "Kolander enjoys life after U hoops". Minnesota Daily. University of Minnesota.
  28. "McDonald Named Mr. Basketball". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. April 29, 1991. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  29. "Money Isn't Everything to Minnesota's Woog". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. January 23, 1996. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  30. "Sam Jacobson bio". Minnesota Golden Gophers. University of Minnesota. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  31. "1998 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  32. "Mestas Stretches Truth in Short Story". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. March 14, 1997. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  33. "James Must Return October 7 for Sentencing". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. September 25, 1997. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  34. "El-Amin Chooses UConn". St. Paul Pioneer Press. April 26, 1997. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  35. "2000 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  36. 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.
  37. "Horvath Salutes Humphries' Talent". St. Paul Pioneer Press. MediaNews Group. May 23, 2003. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  38. "Adam Boone bio". Minnesota Golden Gophers. University of Minnesota. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  39. "Rickert, Calhoun honored". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. April 30, 2001. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  40. "2003 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  41. "Player Bio: Stephen King". Ohio Bobcats. University of Ohio. Archived from the original on March 12, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  42. 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.
  43. "2004 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  44. 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.
  45. "Player Bio: Travis Busch". Colorado State Rams. Colorado State University. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  46. Miller, Phil (March 18, 2010). "A Minnesota family's NCAA reunion". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  47. Forde, Pat (March 15, 2008). "Minnesota's miracle worker makes his second shot for the ages". ESPN. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  48. 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.
  49. "Minnesota standout Royce White signs with Iowa St". CBS Sports. Associated Press. July 12, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  50. 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.
  51. Leighton, Tim (March 30, 2011). "Hopkins' Joe Coleman selected Minnesota's Mr. Basketball". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  52. Reusse, Patrick. "Hopkins' Siyani Chambers selected as Mr. Basketball". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  53. Paulsen, Jim (March 26, 2013). "North Suburban Conference dissolves; Quinton Hooker is Mr. Basketball". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  54. Leighton, Tim (March 20, 2014). "High schools: Tyus Jones is Mr. Minnesota Basketball". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  55. Davis, Matthew (March 16, 2015). "High schools: JT Gibson of Champlin Park named Mr. Basketball". Minnesota Sun Post. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  56. Stavenhagen, Cody (March 14, 2016). "Hopkins' Amir Coffey named Mr. Minnesota Basketball". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  57. Stavenhagen, Cody (March 26, 2017). "Champlin Park's McKinley Wright named Mr. Minnesota Basketball". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2017.

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