67 Players Chosen
Note: This list is based on incomplete information. Lists come from state athletic and coaching organizations, along with local news media and other sponsored groups. Any assistance is appreciated. Some states name a Player of the Year for different classes within the state.
A separate list for Gatorade State Players of Year is available here.
Players with an (*) transferred from Kentucky.
| Player | Year Chosen | State | Notes | Height | Position | Hometown (High School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Lickert | 1957 | Kentucky | - | 6-3 | F-G | Lexington, KY (Lafayette) |
| Bernard Butts (*) | 1959 | Florida | - | 6-0 | G | North Miami Beach, FL (Hialeah) |
| Pat Doyle | 1959 | Kentucky | - | 6-2 | F-G | Calvert City, KY (North Marshall) |
| Randy Embry | 1961 | Kentucky | - | 5-11 | G | Owensboro, KY (High) |
| Mike Casey | 1966 | Kentucky | - | 6-4 | G | Simpsonville, KY (Shelby County) |
| Jimmy Dan Conner | 1971 | Kentucky | - | 6-4 | F-G | Lawrenceburg, KY (Anderson County) |
| Mike Flynn | 1971 | Indiana | - | 6-3 | G | Jeffersonville, IN (High) |
| Kevin Grevey | 1971 | Ohio | (Co-MVP) | 6-5 | F | Hamilton, OH (Taft) |
| Bob Guyette | 1971 | Illinois | Class A | 6-9 | C | Ottawa, IL (Marquette) |
| Mike Phillips | 1973 1974 | Ohio | - | 6-10 | C | Manchester, OH (High) |
| Jack Givens | 1974 | Kentucky | - | 6-4 | F | Lexington, KY (Bryan Station) |
| Rick Robey | 1974 | Louisiana | AP | 6-10 | F-C | New Orleans, LA (Brother Martin High) |
| Kyle Macy | 1975 | Indiana | - | 6-3 | G | Peru, IN (High) |
| Jay Shidler | 1976 | Illinois | Class A | 6-1 | G | Lawrenceville, IL (High) |
| Lavon Williams | 1976 | Four Corners | Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico | 6-6 | F | Denver, CO (Manual) |
| Dirk Minniefield | 1979 | Kentucky | - | 6-3 | G | Lexington, KY (Lafayette) |
| Jim Master | 1980 | Indiana | - | 6-5 | G | Fort Wayne, IN (Paul Harding) |
| Todd May (*) | 1982 | Kentucky | - | 6-8 | F | Virgie, KY (Pike County) |
| Roger Harden | 1982 | Indiana | - | 6-1 | G | Valparaiso, IN (High) |
| Kenny Walker | 1982 | Georgia | Atlanta Tip-Off Club | 6-8 | F | Roberta, GA (Crawford County Comprehensive) |
| Winston Bennett | 1983 | Kentucky | - | 6-7 | F | Louisville, KY (Male) |
| Cedric Jenkins | 1984 | Georgia | Class AA | 6-11 | F | Dawson, GA (Terrell County) |
| Eric Manuel (*) | 1985 | Georgia | Atlanta Tip-Off Club | 6-6 | G | Macon, GA (Southwest) |
| Rex Chapman | 1986 | Kentucky | - | 6-5 | G | Owensboro, KY (Apollo) |
| LeRon Ellis (*) | 1987 | California | - | 6-10 | C | Tustin, CA (Mater Dei) |
| John Pelphrey | 1987 | Kentucky | - | 6-7 | F-G | Paintsville, KY (High) |
| Richie Farmer | 1988 | Kentucky | - | 6-0 | G | Manchester, KY (Clay County) |
| Chris Mills (*) | 1988 1987 | California | - | 6-7 | F | Los Angeles, CA (Fairfax) |
| Jamal Mashburn | 1990 | New York | - | 6-8 | F | Bronx, NY (Cardinal Hayes) |
| Rodrick Rhodes (*) | 1992 | New Jersey | - | 6-6 | F | Jersey City, NJ (St. Anthonys) |
| Tony Delk | 1992 | Tennessee | Class AAA | 6-1 | G | Brownsville, TN (Haywood) |
| Jared Prickett | 1992 | West Virginia | - | 6-9 | F | Fairmont, WV (West) |
| Jeff Sheppard | 1992 | Georgia | Atlanta Tip-Off Club | 6-4 | G | Peachtree City, GA (McIntosh) |
| Allen Edwards | 1994 | Florida | - | 6-5 | G-F | Miami, FL (Miami Senior) |
| Ron Mercer | 1994 1993 | Tennessee | Class A Class AA | 6-7 | F | Nashville, TN (Goodpasture Christian) |
| Oliver Simmons (*) | 1995 1994 | Tennessee | Class AA Class AA | 6-8 | F | Nashville, TN (Lipscomb) |
| Tayshaun Prince | 1998 | California | - | 6-9 | G-F | Compton, CA (Dominguez) |
| Marvin Stone (*) | 1999 | Alabama | - | 6-10 | F-C | Huntsville, AL (Grissom) |
| Jason Parker (*) | 1999 1998 | North Carolina | Associated Press Associated Press | 6-8 | F-C | Charlotte, NC (West Charlotte) |
| Gerald Fitch | 2000 | Georgia | AAAA | 6-3 | G | Macon, GA (Westside) |
| Josh Carrier | 2001 | Kentucky | - | 6-4 | G | Bowling Green, KY (High) |
| Chuck Hayes | 2001 | California | D-I | 6-6 | F | Modesto, CA (Modesto Christian) |
| Kelenna Azubuike | 2001 2002 | Oklahoma | Tulsa World and Ok. Coaches Association Tulsa World and Ok. Coaches Association | 6-5 | G-F | Tulsa, OK (Victory Christian) |
| Brandon Stockton | 2002 | Kentucky | - | 5-9 | G | Glasgow, KY (High) |
| Bobby Perry | 2003 | North Carolina | AAA - NCHSAA | 6-8 | F | Durham, NC (Hillside) |
| Ramon Harris | 2006 | Alaska | 4A | 6-6 | F | Anchorage, AK (West) |
| Patrick Patterson | 2006 | West Virginia | State | 6-8 | F-C | Huntington, WV (High) |
| Darius Miller | 2008 | Kentucky | - | 6-7 | F | Maysville, KY (Mason County) |
| Jon Hood | 2009 | Kentucky | - | 6-7 | G-F | Madisonville, KY (North Hopkins) |
| Brandon Knight | 2009 2010 | Florida | Dairy Farmers Dairy Farmers | 6-3 | G | Fort Lauderdale, FL (Pine Crest) |
| Terrence Jones | 2009 2010 | Oregon | 5A 5A | 6-9 | F | Portland, OR (Jefferson) |
| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | 2011 | New Jersey | Star-Ledger | 6-7 | F | Somerdale, NJ (St. Patrick) |
| Archie Goodwin | 2011 | Arkansas | Arkansas Gazette-Democrat | 6-5 | G | Little Rock, AR (Sylvan Hills) |
| Alex Poythress | 2012 | Tennessee | AAA | 6-8 | F | Clarksville, TN (Northeast) |
| Aaron Harrison | 2013 | Texas | Texas Association of Basketball Coaches | 6-6 | G | Richmond, TX (Travis) |
| Dominique Hawkins | 2013 | Kentucky | - | 6-0 | G | Richmond, KY (Madison Central) |
| Trey Lyles | 2014 | Indiana | - | 6-10 | F | Camby, IN (Arsenal Tech (Indianapolis, IN)) |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 2014 | New Jersey | Star-Ledger | 6-11 | C | Metuchen, NJ (St. Joseph) |
| Isaiah Briscoe | 2015 | New Jersey | NJ.com | 6-3 | G | Union, NJ (Roselle Catholic (Newark, NJ)) |
| Kevin Knox | 2017 | Florida | - | 6-9 | F | Tampa, FL (Tampa Catholic) |
| Nick Richards | 2017 | New Jersey | NJ.com | 6-11 | C | Kingston, JM (The Patrick School (Hillside, NJ)) |
| Ashton Hagans | 2018 | Georgia | - | 6-3 | G | Cartersville, GA (Newton) |
| Tyrese Maxey | 2019 | Texas | Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (6A) | 6-3 | G | Garland, TX (South Garland) |
| Dontaie Allen (*) | 2019 | Kentucky | - | 6-6 | G-F | Falmouth, KY (Pendleton County) |
| Brandon Boston | 2020 | California | - | 6-7 | G | Norcross, GA (Sierra Canyon (CA) High) |
| Justin Edwards | 2023 | Pennsylvania | - | 6-8 | F | Philadelphia, PA (Imhotep Institute) |
| Reed Sheppard | 2023 | Kentucky | - | 6-3 | G | London, KY (North Laurel) |
