Yacoubou Gatorade's NY Player of Year

For the second straight year, a Long Island player has won a share of both major New York State boys basketball awards.

Achraf Yacoubou of Long Island Lutheran Thursday was named the Gatorade New York Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Just days earlier, he was voted Mr. Basketball in the Empire State, sharing that honor with Jabarie Hinds of Mount Vernon.

Last year, Tobias Harris of Half Hollow Hills West, currently a freshman star playing for Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament, won both New York awards.

Yacoubou, a 6-5 senior guard who accepted a full scholarship to Villanova, has led the Crusaders to a 21-4 record and a spot in the state Federation Class A Tournament in Albany. He has averaged 19.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

"Yacoubou is a special player," said Albany Academy coach Brian Fruscio, whose team lost twice to Lutheran this season. Yacoubou recorded a double-double in each game.

Said Fruscio, "He can put the ball on the floor, he can knock down the three and he's a very good defensive player. He really competes."