Boys basketball: 2000 Dream Team

Barry Faulkner

If senior standouts Kevin Hansen and Dustin Illingworth actually

combined forces to play opponents as members of the Daily Pilot

All-Newport-Mesa District boys basketball squad, there may not be enough

defenders available to give them the attention to which they’ve become

accustomed.

Hansen, from Corona del Mar High, and Illingworth, from Newport Harbor,

quite often frustrated the double- and triple-teaming of opponents with

talent and determination.

For their efforts, the all-district repeaters share Player of the Year

honors on the first Dream Team of the new millennium.

A banner year for district boys teams produced uncommonly balanced

representation among the four district schools.

CdM, which advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA and

Southern California Regional Division III semifinals and finished 23-8,

is also represented by senior guard Alec Hanson.

Seniors Jon Cantrell, Jason Simco and Darshaun Garner represent Estancia

on the squad, which also includes Costa Mesa seniors Ryan Naff and Nate

Jones.

Newport Harbor’s Aaron Yarnal is the lone junior on the nine-member unit.

Paul Orris, who moved to the top of the district’s career victory list

(217 wins in 14 seasons) and guided the Sea Kings to their first outright

league title since 1987, is Coach of the Year.

Hansen, a 6-foot-4 forward-guard, averaged 20.8 points and just more than

seven rebounds to earn repeat all-district laurels.

Bound for Stanford on a volleyball scholarship, Hansen often carried the

Sea Kings with prolific scoring, tenacious rebounding and a highly

refined court sense. He scored in double figures in each of the 27 games

he played.

After one particularly impressive move in a practice scrimmage, Orris

quipped: “See, we have a hard time stopping him, too.”

Illingworth, a 6-4 forward bound for UC San Diego, averaged 19.8 points

and just more than eight rebounds for the Sailors, who advanced to the

CIF Division II-AA second round before finishing 18-9.

Using explosive quickness, jumping ability and determination, the Sea

View League Co-MVP found ways to score through and around bunched-in

defenders in the paint. The four-year varsity performer shot 61% from the

field and continually amazed Coach Larry Hirst.

“What makes his season so impressive, in my eyes, is how hard he had to

work for everything he got,” Hirst said.

Hanson, also an all-district repeater, averaged 11.5 points as the CdM

point guard. His outside shooting, floor leadership and competitiveness

made him invaluable.

Cantrell, who drained nearly 200 three-pointers in his third varsity

season, averaged 16.1 points as a guard. His 38-point output against

Antelope Valley Christian was the best single-season total by a district

player. His nine three-pointers against Nogales are a single-game

district record. He us considering Irvine Valley or Orange Coast

community colleges.

Garner, an undersized post at 6-3, used uncommon work ethic to often

outduel taller, more polished opponents. He averaged 12.3 points and 12

rebounds and earned the open admiration of Coach Rich Boyce. He said he

may play at Biola.

Simco, a guard who often contributed stifling defense, averaged 13.3

points for the Eagles, who finished 14-13 after a first-round exit in the

CIF III-AA playoffs. He plans to play at Concordia University.

Naff, a 6-4 wing who returned to Mesa after spending his junior season in

Georgia, averaged 15.1 points for the best Mustangs squad in recent

memory.

Jones, a 6-4 inside player, averaged 13.9 points for Coach Bob Serven’s

surprising unit, which finished 17-10 after falling in the III-AA first

round.

Yarnal, a 6-0 guard, averaged 15.4 points in his second varsity season.