Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, Aaron Yarnal: Media friendly

Barry Faulkner

One day, Newport Harbor High’s Aaron Yarnal wants to be the media

spotlight. For now, however, he’s content to operate in its midst, as a

standout guard on the Sailors’ boys basketball team.

“I’d like to major in journalism, or maybe broadcast journalism,” Yarnal

said of his future college plans. “I’m especially interested in broadcast

news, because I think I look good in front of a camera.”

And while a sparkling smile never translated to a box score, nor the win

column, Yarnal regularly pleases prep basketball viewers with his ample

talent.

A dangerous perimeter shooter, he is also able to aggressively attack the

basket, often suspending himself in the air while improvising an inside

shot against airborne defenders.

“In the beginning, I was pretty much a slasher,” the 6-foot, 165-pounder

said. “But since teams have started to take away my drives, I’ve had to

rely more on the three-point shot. I’ve got the three-pointer down pretty

good and I feel most comfortable on the perimeter, now.”

Yarnal’s comfort level was apparent in Friday’s dramatic Sea View League

overtime victory over Woodbridge.

After the visiting Warriors claimed a 26-18 halftime lead, Yarnal scored

16 second-half points, including a trio of three-pointers, and converted

both ends of a one-and-one free-throw situation with 28 seconds left in

regulation.

Woodbridge forced overtime with a three-pointer at the buzzer, but the

Sailors, ranked No. 9 in CIF Southern Section II-AA and Orange County,

went on to win, 59-57. The victory also helped the Tars (15-5 and 3-0 in

league) remain atop the league standings.

“That was good for him and good for everyone,” Hirst said of Yarnal’s

crunch-time performance. “Those were set plays and it’s good for everyone

to know, when we start something, we can finish it.”

Yarnal started displaying his skill in small increments last season, when

he averaged 2.8 points per game as a reserve on the 24-6 CIF Division

II-AA quarterfinalist.

But Yarnal’s development was also forged during every practice of his

debut varsity season.

“I had to guard (Newport-Mesa District Player of the Year) Matt Jameson

(now at Miami of Ohio) in practice and he basically kicked my butt every

day,” Yarnal said.

Yarnal also said he gained confidence by competing with Orange County

peers in a spring league and Hirst credited his further development to

first-year assistant coach Rick Cook.

“(Cook) helped Aaron understand about being in the right place at the

right time,” Hirst said. “And with Dustin (Illingworth, an all-district

and all-league post player averaging 20.5 points per game) on his side of

the floor, it’s important he knows what to do when teams double- and

triple-team Dustin. Aaron has probably been the biggest beneficiary of

that defensive focus.”

Yarnal’s focus has grown to include a primary defensive role.

“Aaron was so concerned about scoring, when he didn’t score, he’d get

down on himself,” Hirst said. “We decided to challenge him by putting him

on the other team’s best player and he has responded.”

Yarnal said he enjoys being an impact player this season and is

conscientious about the responsibility that entails.

“I despise having a bad game,” he said. “It hounds me. I realize if I

don’t play so well, our chances of winning are slim. So, I work hard to

mentally prepare myself before each game.”

Those letdowns have been all but nonexistent, as he was averaging 15.3

ppg through Tuesday and had scored in double figures in 18 of 19 games.

Yarnal said he would like to add basketball to his projected college

curriculum, and Hirst believes he has potential to play at the next

level.

“I try to play a lot of basketball, because I want to make the most out

of my potential,” Yarnal said. “I want to give myself the best chance

possible to play college basketball.”