O’Bannon, Sampson Are Honored : Prep basketball: Stars from Artesia and Washington are named Southern California players of the year.

Charles O’Bannon of Lakewood Artesia High and Charisse Sampson of Washington High have been selected the top boys’ and girls’ high school basketball players of the year in Southern California by The Times.

The two were honored Sunday at separate banquets held for all-star teams in their area. O’Bannon is on The Times’ Southeast team and Sampson on the Central-City squad.

O’Bannon, a 6-foot-6 junior forward and the younger brother of UCLA player Ed O’Bannon, was presented the George Yardley Award. Sampson, a 5-11 senior forward, was presented the Cheryl Miller award. This is the second year those awards have been given.

O’Bannon averaged 20 points and nine rebounds this season in leading Artesia to the State Division II title. He was selected over Reggie Geary of Santa Ana Mater Dei.

Sampson, who will attend Kansas, completed her high school career as the City Section’s all-time scoring and rebounder leader. She averaged 27 points and 17 rebounds in leading Washington to its fourth consecutive Division 4-A title. She was selected over Michelle Palmisano of Thousand Oaks and Kristen Mulligan of Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Winners of the boys’ and girls’ player and coach of the year for each of The Times’ 12 circulation areas also were honored Sunday at their respective banquets. They were:

CENTRAL CITY--Brandon Martin, Washington, Sr. (boys’ player); Sam Sullivan, Fremont (boys’ coach); Charisse Sampson, Sr., Washington (girls’ player); Phil Chase, Washington (girls’ coach).

GLENDALE--Jimmy Evans, La Canada, Sr. (boys’ player); Tom Hofman, La Canada (boys’ coach); Melissa Lord, La Canada, Jr. (girls’ player); Drew Lord, Eagle Rock (girls’ coach).

INLAND EMPIRE--Quincy Brewer, Riverside North, Sr. (boys’ player); John Gorham, La Sierra (boys’ coach); Darlene Wilson, Rubidoux, Sr. (girls’ player); Becky Light, San Bernardino Christian (girls’ coach).

ORANGE COUNTY--Reggie Geary, Mater Dei, Sr. (boys’ player); Rich Prospero, Santa Ana Valley (boys’ coach); Jody Anton, Brea-Olinda, Sr. (girls’ player); Bob Becker, Rancho Alamitos (girls’ coach).

SAN DIEGO COUNTY--Scot Pollard, Torrey Pines, Jr. (boys’ player): Greg Lanthier, Vista (boys’ coach); Vanessa Nygaard, Carlsbad, Jr. (girls’ player); Jay Trousdale, Poway (girls’ coach).

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY--Marquis Burns, Reseda, Sr. (boys’ player); Stuart Mason, Faith Baptist (boys’ coach); Rachel Corelli, Alemany, Sr. (girls’ player); Melissa Melton, Alemany (girls’ coach).

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY--Cameron Murray, Glendora, Soph. (boys’ player); Gary Prestesater, San Dimas (boys’ coach); Davette Williams, Walnut, Sr. (girls’ player); Paul Reed, South Hills (girls’ coach).

SOUTH BAY--Stais Boseman, Morningside, Jr. (boys’ player); Lamont Henry, South Torrance (boys’ coach); Kristen Mulligan, Peninsula, Sr. (girls’ player); Wendall Yoshida, Peninsula (girls’ coach).

SOUTH COAST--Jamal Lawrence, Lynwood, Sr. (boys’ player); Jim Ferguson, Long Beach Wilson (boys’ coach); Ja’net Davis, Lynwood, Sr. (girls’ player); Maurice Roberson, Lynwood (girls’ coach).

SOUTHEAST--Charles O’Bannon, Artesia, Jr. (boys’ player); Larry Shelton, Downey (boys’ coach); Faye Hagan, Glenn, Sr. (girls’ player); Eleanor Dykstra, Cerritos Valley Christian (girls’ coach).

VENTURA--Lance Fay, Buena, Sr. (boys’ player); Ed Chevalier, Thousand Oaks (boys’ coach); Michelle Palmisano, Thousand Oaks, Sr. (girls’ player); Joe Vaughan, Buena (girls’ coach).

WESTSIDE--James Gray, Westchester, Sr. (boys’ player); Ed Azzam, Westchester (boys’ coach); Alan Collins, University, Sr. (girls’ player); Ed Aronin, Notre Dame Academy (girls’ coach).