Eighth Annual Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones Award to be presented to Jackson Green during 2021 VIRTUAL Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony

Eighth Annual Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones Award to be presented to Jackson Green during 2021 VIRTUAL Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony

Credit Source: Kentucky Eye Foundation

LOUISVILLE – The Eighth Annual Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones Award will be presented to Jackson Green from West Jessamine High School during the 2021 VIRTUAL Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony on April 18th.

Nominees were submitted from across the state to the Jones family for this prestigious award for senior multi-sport athletes who excel equally in their classroom and contribute greatly to their community. “All of the nominees were very deserving and this decision gets more difficult to make each year,” said Wallace “Wah” Jones, Jr.

Jackson Green, a senior at West Jessamine High School, has played basketball, baseball and football during his high school career, while maintaining a 3.385 GPA.

On the football field in 2020 Green was ranked first among 5A schools in receiving with 1,093 receiving yards and was ranked first in scoring with 21 touchdowns. He played in 32 games during his junior basketball season, averaging 8.3 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per game.  On the baseball diamond, as a sophomore Green had a .400 batting average.

“From leading his basketball team to a 12th Region Championship as a junior, to leading the state in receiving as a senior, and being a standout on the baseball diamond despite losing his junior season to COVID-19, Jackson is always at the center of attention,” according to one of his coaches, Damon Kelley. “His work ethic, character, and talent are second-to-none.”

Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones, Sr. was a two-sport All-American at the University of Kentucky, playing for legendary coaches Adolph Rupp and Bear Bryant, winning two national championships and an NIT.  Jones is the only player at the University of Kentucky to have his jerseys retired in both sports.  In addition to basketball and football, Jones was a pitcher with the Wildcats and a member of the UK track and field team.  He won a gold medal in the 1948 Summer Olympics with Rupp’s “Fabulous Five” and the Phillip 66ers.  After college Jones went on to play in the National Basketball Association with the Indianapolis Olympians. During his tremendous athletic career Jones was the image of sportsmanship and is respected throughout the world.

All sports fans are welcome to view the 2021 Virtual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony.   For questions please email JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org or call 270-999-4887.

The 10th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Award Ceremony serves as a fundraiser for the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, who has announced Mr. Kentucky Basketball since 1954 and Miss Kentucky Basketball since 1976.  To learn more about KLEF’s mission and our programs and services please visit www.kylionseye.org.