Faces to watch in 2009

Ji-Yai Shin of South Korea joins the LPGA Tour after being a force on the Korean and Japanese tours, and after winning the British Women’s Open. The 20-year-old, who had a record 20 victories on the Korean tour, also won the season-ending ADT Championship on the U.S. tour.  (Scott Halleran / Getty Images)

Russell Westbrook went from lightly recruited prep prospect out of Lawndale Leuzinger High to UCLA starter to No. 4 pick in the draft in three years, and he may be doing it again in the NBA. The 2008 draft class has plenty of star power, but Westbrook is just starting to happen. After showing he wasn’t intimidated — he averaged 11 shots in his first 16 games while making 32% — the 20-year-old Westbrook showed he wasn’t overmatched, improving to 45% in the next 11 while becoming the starting point guard for Oklahoma City.  (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)

Shawn Estrada was part of a medal-less U.S. Olympic boxing team that is regarded as the most disappointing in history, but the East Los Angeles product who suffered through the death of his father while in Beijing has two first-round knockouts as a pro. He plans to fight as often as twice a month (usually around L.A.) during this career-building part of his middleweight experience and he’s already been showcased in Ontario and Cabazon. For local fight fans interested in tracking a tough, furious-punching prospect who offers unmistakable similarities to the “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya, this is your guy.   (Rick Bowmer / Associated Press)

Jeremy Abbott, 23, of Colorado Springs has a shot at replacing two-time national champion Evan Lysacek and three-time national champion Johnny Weir as the leading U.S. men’s figure skater heading into the 2010 Olympics. Abbott, fourth at last year’s U.S. championships, won December’s Grand Prix final and November’s Cup of China. His score at the Grand Prix final was highest ever by a U.S. man.  (Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images)

Gerrit Cole came out of Orange Lutheran High with a scholarship offer from UCLA and a pro offer from the New York Yankees after he was drafted 28th overall in June. All thanks to his 97 mph fastball. He became one of the few high school players in recent years to turn down a bonus offer to enroll in college instead.   (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)