Wayne Estes

Wayne Vernon Estes (May 13, 1943 – February 8, 1965) was an American basketball player. He was a 6'6" (1.98 m) All-American forward for the Utah State Aggies from 1962 to 1965. Wayne is the fourth-leading scorer in Utah State history, with 2,001 points and the fourth-leading rebounder (893). He holds school records for career points per game (26.7), free throws made in a career (469), consecutive 10-point games (64), points in a season (821), points per game in a season (33.7), points in a game (52), and rebounds in a game (28). He was the second leading scorer in the nation in 1965, just behind Rick Barry.

Wayne Estes
Personal information
Born(1943-05-13)May 13, 1943
Virginia City, Montana
DiedFebruary 8, 1965(1965-02-08) (aged 21)
Logan, Utah
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Career information
High schoolAnaconda (Anaconda, Montana)
CollegeUtah State (1962–1965)
PositionForward
Career highlights and awards

High school

Estes earned all-state honors in three sports for the Anaconda Copperheads: football, basketball, and track. Estes earned three letters each in football and basketball (freshmen were unable to play varsity football and basketball at this time) and four letters in track.

Estes was the Montana state class A champion discus and shot put thrower in his senior season. He still holds the Anaconda high school shot put record with a mark of 59' 4.5".

During his high school basketball career, Estes scored 1,430 points. Only Minneapolis Lakers Center Ed Kalafat, who racked up 1,561 points, outscored Estes while at Anaconda High School.

Accidental death

On the night of February 8, 1965, Wayne Estes played what would be the last game of his college career, against the University of Denver in the Nelson Field House. Estes scored 48 points during this game, eclipsing the 2,000-point mark of his career.

Bounce pass to Estes. Puts the ball behind his back. Turns and looks out front to Hal Hale…(Estes) looks at his defense, pushes, and it's…in! Oh, great! Wayne Estes has now scored two-thousand points in a three-year career.
—Play-by-play announcer Reid Andreasen, KVNU Radio, Feb. 8, 1965

After the game, Estes and some friends stopped at the scene of a car accident near campus. While crossing the street, Estes brushed against a downed high power line and was fatally electrocuted. Estes would have likely been a high draft pick in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1965. The Los Angeles Lakers had intended to draft him in the first round.[1] Estes was posthumously given All-American honors by the Associated Press and also earned a posthumous consensus Second Team All-American distinction. His number of #33 was posthumously retired by the Aggies. Wayne is buried in the Sunset Memorial cemetery near Fairmont, Montana just southeast of Anaconda.[2]

NCAA career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1962–63 Utah State 27.......479....8389.5.........20.0
1963–64 Utah State 29.......479....85313.0.........28.3
1964–65 Utah State 19.......486....87813.7.........33.7
Career[3] 75.......481....85611.9.........26.7

Wayne Estes Center
Wayne Estes Center

In May 2013, Utah State University announced the construction of the $9.7 million Wayne Estes Center, which will serve as a practice facility for the Utah State University Aggies men's and women's basketball teams and house a competition venue women's volleyball team. In the foyer will be a visual tribute to Wayne Estes. The center was made possible by a $5.25 million gift from Jim and Carol Laub and a $1.3 million gift from Blake Kirby. Groundbreaking was held in June 2013 and completion was scheduled for April 2014. [4]

See also

References
  1. "Estes Was No. 1 With Lakers", Los Angeles Times, Feb 10, 1965, pg. B3
  2. "50 years after his bizarre death, Wayne Estes remains a towering presence". The Missoulian. February 9, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  3. "Wayne Estes NCAA Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  4. "Utah State Athletics Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Wayne Estes Center".
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