Mr. Show Me Basketball winners

The Mr. Show-Me Basketball award is presented annually by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association. The award recognizes the top male high school basketball player in Missouri. The award’s name reflects Missouri’s nickname, the “Show-Me State.”

Eligibility Criteria:

• Nominated by their high school coach
• Started in 90 percent of all games
• High school senior
• “Outstanding moral character”

After nominations are submitted, a committee selects ten finalists. A special committee of assistant college coaches in Missouri chooses the winner.

Notable Winners:

Jayson Tatum (2016):

Perhaps the best player in the history of Missouri high school hoops, Tatum played collegiately at Duke. The Boston Celtics picked Tatum with the 3rd pick in the 2017 NBA draft. Tatum made an immediate impact. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season. Tatum also won the NBA Eastern Conference finals MVP in 2022, and he won his first NBA title in 2024.

Anthony Peeler (1988):

Peeler played for the University of Missouri where he became one of the most dominant players in program history. The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Peeler 15th overall in the 1992 NBA draft. He played about a dozen years in the league.

Anthony Bonner (1986):

Bonner played at St. Louis University where he set numerous records. He spent several years in the NBA with Sacramento and New York.

David Lee (2001):

Lee played college basketball for the Florida Gators. He was the 30th overall draft pick by the New York Knicks in the 2005 NBA draft. He ended his career as a 2-time NBA All-Star.

Larry Hughes (1997):

Hughes played college basketball at Saint Louis University. He was the 8th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft. Hughes spent 14-seasons in the NBA.

Tyler Hansbrough (2005):

Hansbrough starred with North Carolina Tar Heels. In fact, he was the first player in ACC history named first-team All-ACC four times and a first-team All-American four times. He went on to play in the NBA for nearly a decade.

Mr. Show Me State Basketball winners

High Schools with Multiple Winners

Rockhurst 4
Vashon 3
CBC 3
Chaminade 3
Rock Bridge 2
Poplar Bluff 2
Pembroke Hill 2
Kickapoo 2

Mr. Basketball USA

Here is a piece of Missouri sports trivia that is hard to believe. There have been two high school players with Missouri ties that have won the Mr. Basketball USA award. But neither of them won the Mr. Show Me State Basketball award!

Bill Bradley from Crystal City High won the title in 1961, but that was before the statewide award was given. He played at Princeton University where he was named the College Basketball Player of the Year in 1965. Bradley also lead his team to the NCAA Final Four during his senior campaign. He later played in the NBA for the New York Knicks. Bradley won the NBA Champions two times and had his Number 24 retired by the team. He was later a Senator and Presidential candidate.

Michael Porter Jr. won the Mr. Basketball USA title in 2017, although he didn’t win the Mr. Show Me Basketball award that year. That is because he had transferred to a high school in Seattle for his senior season. But Porter Jr. previously attended Father Tolton High in Columbia in the three years prior to the move. Right after he won the Mr. Basketball USA award, he moved back to Columbia to play for the Missouri Tigers. His time was cut short at Mizzou after an injury early in his freshman season. He then entered the 2018 NBA draft where he was selected 14th overall by the Denver Nuggets. He won an NBA Championship with the team in 2023.