Players of the Year

The Inland Empire has long been regarded as a plum Southland region for high school football talent. Riverside North linebacker Chris Claiborne was The Times’ player of the year last season and one of the country’s most coveted recruits.

In the last few years, the area has begun producing outstanding basketball talent as well. Consider that Corey Benjamin of Fontana and Maylana Martin of Perris have been selected as The Times’ boys’ and girls’ players of the year.

Their selections mark a first for the Inland Empire and are a reflection of the Southland’s fastest growing area.

Benjamin, a 6-foot-6 forward/guard, will receive the George Yardley Award, and Martin, a 6-3 center, the Cheryl Miller Award. The presentations will be made Sunday morning.

Benjamin began his high school career at Riverside North but transferred to Fontana his sophomore year. In three seasons as a starter, he led the Steelers to a 70-17 record and a Southern Section divisional title in 1995.

As a senior, Benjamin averaged 28 points and 11 rebounds a game. He was named the boys’ state player of the year by Cal-Hi magazine and recently participated in the McDonald’s All-American game in Pittsburgh. He is being recruited by many schools, including UCLA, Syracuse and Oregon State, although he hasn’t yet qualified academically.

Martin is a four-time Riverside County player of the year and was also selected the girls’ state player of the year by Cal-Hi.

As a four-year starter at Perris, she averaged in double figures every season, including 31 points, 18 rebounds and five blocked shots per game this year. She signed a letter of intent with UCLA last November.