Wayne Vernon Estes was an American basketball player. He was a 6'6" 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. He holds school records for career points per game, free throws made in a career, consecutive 10-point games, points in a season, points per game in a season, points in a game, and rebounds in a game. He was the second leading scorer in the nation in 1965, just behind Rick Barry.
High school
Wayne earned all state honors in three sports for the Anaconda Copperheads: football, basketball, and track. Estes earned three letters each in football and basketball and four letters in track. Wayne 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, Wayne 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 the last game of his college career. During his last game against the University of Denver in the Nelson Field House, Wayne eclipsed the 2,000 point mark of his career, scoring 48 points in the game.
Bounce pass to Estes. Puts the ball behind his back. Turns and looks out front to Hal Hale… 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 Wayne and some friends stopped at the scene of a car accident near campus. While crossing the street, Wayne brushed against a downed high power line and was fatally electrocuted. Wayne Estes would have likely been a high draft pick in the National Basketball Association in 1965. The Los Angeles Lakers had intended to draft him in the first round. 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.
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 will house a competition venue for the women's volleyball team. In the foyer will be a visual tribute to Wayne Estes. The center was made possible by $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.
