LEXINGTON — Senior Laken Williams of the Martin County Lady Cardinals has been named the winner of the 10th annual Donna L.J. Murphy Award presented by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation.

The award, announced Thursday, honors a standout female senior basketball player who “exemplifies the meaning of being a great student-athlete.” Williams, the first Martin County player ever to receive the award, will accept it March 17 during the 2024 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott Resort.

“I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious award,” Williams said. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Donna L. Murphy for this recognition. I am also thankful to God for blessing my career abundantly. None of this would have been achievable without the unwavering support of my family, teammates and coaches. Their constant investment and encouragement have guided me every step of the journey.”

Nominations were submitted from across the state for the prestigious award.

“Each year I am reminded of the great talent and character that Kentucky has in our girls’ basketball programs,” Donna Murphy said. “So many of the ladies who were nominated have had some great accomplishments in their high school basketball career, and this decision is always very difficult.”

Williams exemplifies excellence both on and off the basketball court at Martin County High. With four years of varsity basketball under her belt, she is a member of the 2000-point club and has over 500 assists to her credit. She averaged 21.2 points per game in the 2021-2022 season and 19 points per game during her senior campaign.

In the classroom, Williams maintains a 3.96 GPA.

During her high school career, Williams has been instrumental to her team in achieving an impressive 80-32 record and consecutive 57th District championship victories in 2022 and 2023. She has garnered numerous accolades, including selections to the WYMT All-Tournament Team in 2020 and 2023 and the 15th Region Coaches Association All-Region Team in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She has received various MVP awards, including tournaments like the Marshall County Hoop Fest, the Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic, and the Smoky Mountain Classic. Her exceptional performance earned her the Buckeye Elite MVP and Donna Murphy Classic two-time Player of the Game awards. She also earned a spot on the Lexington Christian Jim Rose Classic All-Tournament Team.

Williams committed Feb. 14 to playing basketball for Morehead State University in the upcoming 2024-2025 season. Reflecting on her experiences, she acknowledged the invaluable lessons she has learned through basketball. As she looks toward the future, she is eager to apply these skills at Morehead.

“Since I was a little girl, I have had dreams of one day playing ball at the next,” Williams said. “My dreams have finally come true, and I am beyond thankful and blessed.”

Williams is engaged in various extracurricular activities and community service projects. She is a member of the BETA Club and Travel Club, participates in the JAG Program and contributes her time to the yearbook team. She has been involved in numerous community service initiatives, including those with local churches and the Martin County Hoops League where she mentors youth through basketball camps and individual lessons.

Martin County girls basketball coach Robin Newsome had high praise for Donna L.J. Murphy.

“She was the best basketball player ever to play the women’s game,” Newsome said. “Her talent level was way ahead of its time. As good a basketball player as Donna was, she was an even better person of high character and a role model for young women across the state.”

She added, “I am humbled and thank God for his continued blessings for our players and program. To have a player receive this prestigious award is one of the highest honors in Kentucky girls basketball and the first in Martin County. God has truly blessed us with great players, and for Laken Williams to receive this honor is a testament to her hard work, character and ability. This award is based on many things and it speaks volumes for Laken to have been selected.”

Williams’ award also honors her teammates and the Lady Cards program.

“Laken could not have accomplished any of this without her teammates,” said Newsome. “We celebrate it with Laken and her family.”

Donna L.J. Murphy

Donna L.J. Murphy played basketball at Newport High School from 1972-76 and went on to become an All-American. During her senior year she was named Kentucky’s first Miss Basketball in 1976, averaging 35 points and 20 rebounds. She was awarded the Ted Sanford Award for being named the MVP of the 1975 Kentucky state tournament after she scored 67 points and grabbed 50 rebounds in two games.

More than a great high school basketball player, Murphy was also the State AA high jump champion in 1974 and named All-region in volleyball before graduating fifth in her class. As a highly recruited student-athlete, she chose to attend Morehead State University. She graduated magna cum laude twice, with a BA in Communications/ Journalism with Teacher Certification and a MHE in Counseling.

Murphy remains a highly decorated high school and college student-athlete and a member of 11 Hall of Fames, including the Kentucky Basketball Hall of Fame. Murphy was also the first female student-athlete to have her jersey retired at Morehead State University and Newport High School. She was the first forward drafted in the Women’s Professional Basketball League in 1980 and went on to play for the St. Louis Streak. After her playing career she transitioned to coaching. She has held coaching positions at the collegiate level and also coached Pro-Am, high school, middle school, AAU and Exposure basketball. Murphy is now retired after many years working as a Professor and Counselor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, overseeing the Diversity Outreach Services and Intramural Sports. In her free time, she is a basketball skills trainer.

All sports fans are welcome to attend or view the 2024 Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony. To learn more about the event, visit http://www.mrandmisskybasketball.com. For questions, please email JenniferHunt@kylionseye.org or call 270-999-4887.

The 13th annual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony serves as a fundraiser for the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, which 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.