Kentucky women?s basketball signee Arnika Brown of Hopkinsville, Ky., has been named the 2006 Kentucky Miss Basketball it was announced Friday in Frankfort?s Capitol Rotunda by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation. The award is chosen by the state?s high school coaches. Brown will be the second consecutive and sixth overall Kentucky Miss Basketball to play for the Wildcats, joining 2005 winner Carly Ormerod (Louisville).

?This is a wonderful honor for Arnika and Christian County High School,? UK Coach Mickie DeMoss said. ?Arnika is a tremendous talent and she has the potential to be one of the greatest players to ever come out of this state. We look forward to the things she will bring to our program.?

Brown, a 6-2 power forward, led Christian County High School to a remarkable 164-21 record since she slid into a starting role in the eighth grade. She was named The Associated Press 2006 Player of the Year after leading the Lady Colonels to a 25-4 overall mark and averaging 25.5 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. She ended her prep career as Christian County’s all-time leading scorer under Coach Don Dillard and she was a three-time first-team All-State selection. She also helped lead Christian Co. to three state tournament appearances.

Brown is ranked as one of the top 50 players in the nation and as high as No. 10 in her position by several recruiting services. She chose UK over Tennessee and Western Kentucky.