Jacobsen, Estavan Times’ Top Players

Casey Jacobsen of Glendora and Leilani Estavan completed stellar high school basketball careers last month and are looking forward to continuing their careers at Pacific 10 Conference universities in the fall.

They also share another distinction: Each has been selected as a Times’ player of the year.

Jacobsen, a 6-foot-6 guard who is the Southern Section’s all-time scoring leader, is the recipient of the George Yardley Award, presented annually to the top boys’ basketball player in the Southland. He will attend Stanford.

Estavan, a 5-6 guard who led Palisades to the City Section girls’ basketball title and the Division I state championship game, is the recipient of the Cheryl Miller Award, presented annually to the top girls’ player. She will attend Oregon State.

Jacobsen led Glendora to the Southern Section Division I-A title in 1998 and was named the Division I player of the year. This last season, he averaged 31.2 points and helped the Tartans advance to the I-A final, where they lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei. He and Lakewood Artesia’s Jason Kapono were named division co-players of the year. Jacobsen was selected state player of the year by Cal-Hi Sports.

Jacobsen finished his career with 3,284 points, eclipsing the section record of 3,053 set by former Glendora standout Tracy Murray in 1987-90. Jacobsen is second on the state scoring list behind Darnell Robinson of Emeryville Emery, who scored 3,359 points in 1990-93.

Jacobsen scored 22 points in the McDonald’s All-American game and had 31 against an international all-star team at the Hoop Summit in Tampa, Fla., during the Final Four weekend.

Estavan, the City player of the year, averaged 14.0 points, seven assists and led Palisades to its second consecutive City championship game and its first girls’ basketball title this season. In the City final against Washington, Estavan made four of five three-point shots and finished with 20 points.

In the state final against San Jose Archbishop Mitty, Estavan gave Palisades its first lead by driving the length of the court for an acrobatic layup with nine seconds left. Mitty made a shot in the closing seconds for the victory.

Estavan was also named to the all-state team.

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BOYS: GEORGE YEARDLEY AWARD WINNERS

1999: Casey Jacobsen, Glendora

1998: Tayshaun Prince, Compton Dominguez

1997: Baron Davis, Santa Monica Crossroads

1996: Corey Benjamin, Fontana

1995: Paul Pierce, Inglewood

1994: Jelani Gardner, Bellflower St. John Bosco

1993: Jacque Vaughn, Pasadena Muir

1992: Charles O’Bannon, Lakewood Artesia

1991: Cherokee Parks, Huntington Beach

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GIRLS: CHERYL MILLER AWARD WINNERS

1999: Leilani Estavan, Palisades

1998: Michelle Greco, Crescenta Valley

1997: Michelle Greco, Crescenta Valley

1996: Maylana Martin, Perris

1995: Jody Parriott, Cerritos Valley Christian

1994: Olympia Scott, Playa del Rey St. Bernard

1993: Timicha Kirby, Lynwood

1992: Charisse Sampson, Washington

1991: Tamika Phillips, Ontario Chaffey