The question can now be asked, is he the front runner for the 2019 Mr. Basketball award in Kentucky? Not that his exposure was ever in question, but with an MVP performance in UHA’s run to the championship in the All A Classic, KyKy Tandy may have positioned himself to have a strong finish to his career and become the first 2nd Region winner of the award since 2011.
The Blazers now stand at 21-3 and as favorites to advance to the Sweet 16 out of the 2nd Region. That will not be an easy task with Madisonville, Hopkinsville, Christian County, and Henderson County potentially standing in their way, but at this point UHA would have to be considered the most likely of the bunch to make their way to Rupp.
Entering the All A Classic, Tandy was averaging 27.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. In the All A Classic, the UHA senior averaged 22.8 points, 7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Under the bright lights of a state tournament, those are numbers that will not hurt his chances to take home the state’s highest individual basketball honor.
Pendleton County’s Dontaie Allen and Trinity’s David Johnson, who along with Tandy and Michael Moreno, from Scott County, were considered the top preseason contenders for Mr. Basketball. With Allen and Johnson missing most of the season due to injury, it narrows that group of four down to Tandy and Moreno. And, with Tandy having the additional statewide exposure of the All A championship run, you would have to think the Blazer is in position to make a strong case to win the award.
The deadline has passed for nominations for the award has passed. Finalists will be announced in February, with the winner to be announced in early March.
The last 2nd Region player to win the award was Christian County’s Anthony Hickey in 2011. Madisonville’s Jon Hood won in 2009, and Earlington’ Harry Todd shared the award with Russell County’s Ralph Richardson in 1958.