calhi3

SoCal High School & Prep Report

CIF/Cal-Hi's Season Honors--
Player, Coach Of The Year & More--(April 2, 1998)

In addition to the All-State Teams, Cal-Hi Sports has selected it's Player of the Year for Boys' Basketball and it's really not much of a surprise. As we indicated last night, the LA Times let the cat out of the bag (there's that cat again. . . quick, someone skin him) by publishing the word that Tayshaun Prince was chosen as the player of the year. Here's the article printed by Cal-Hi in connection with the announcement, which also named Michelle Greco of Crescenta Valley as the Girls Player of the Year:

"Greco was joined as a State Player of the Year by smooth-shooting, shot-bvlocking Tayshaun Prince from Dominguez High of Compton. Prince was selected as the boys honoree from a field that included super juniors Casey Jacobsen (Glendora) and Jason Kapono (Artesia).

"The 6'-8" Prince, who signed a letter of intent in November with NCAA champion Kentucky, finished the year averaging 22 points per game. He led the Dons in scoring in every big game they had, including impressive outings against eventual Div. I state champion Westchester and nationally-ranked Oak Hill Academy. Prince's value to Dominguez may have been best shown in a 67-54 loss to Compton in which he was only able to play three minutes due to a knee injury. With Prince, Dominguez defeated the same team earlier in the season 72-47."

And with the Top Player honors, also come top coaching honors, but they didn't go to Russell Otis, Prince's coach at Dominguez. Nope, instead they went to Division II State Champion coach from Santa Margarita, Jerry DeBusk, who's wife sings a mean national anthem. Here's what Cal-Hi had to say about DeBusk:

"DeBusk guided the Eagles to a 32-2 record that included a third Southern Section divisional title in the last five years and a Div. I state championship. Since his arrival at Santa Margarita six years ago, DeBusk has compied a 148-32 record. He was previously an assistant for three years at Chapman University, and was head varsity coach for 12 years at Newport Harbor High of Newport Beach. In his 27 year coaching carerr, DeBusk has won more than 400 games."

In addition to these awards, Cal-Hi published it's list of "Season Honors". Here it is:

Season Honors

State Player of the Year:

Tayshaun Prince (6'-8" Sr. G/F) Compton Dominguez (Kentucky)

State Coach of the Year:

Jerry DeBusk, Santa Margarita High, 32-2

Junior Player of the Year:

Casey Jacobsen (6'-6" Jr. F) Glendora

Sophomore Player of the Year:

DeShawn Stephenson (6'-5" So. G) Easton Washington

Freshman Player of the Year:

Tyson Chandler (7'-0" Fr. C) Compton Dominguez

Upset of the Year:

DeAnza (Richmond) 77, St. Joseph (Alameda) 70 (OT)

Game of the Year:

Westchester (LA) 61, Artesia (Lakewood) 60

If you want to re-read what happened in this game, the link will take you to our story; we're not sure we agree that it was the "Game of the Year", but it was pretty exciting nevertheless.