Ventura County Girls’ Player of the Year

A two-time Ventura County player of the year and three-time all-county selection, Michelle Palmisano of Thousand Oaks High finished her illustrious career as the highest-scoring guard in state history. To supplant her, someone will need to score more than 2,796 points. Additionally, Palmisano ranks fourth overall in the state and third in the Southern Section.

Palmisano scored a county-record 837 points this season, an average of 26.2 points a game. She held the previous record of 799, set in her sophomore season. She also holds the school record for rebounds in a career with 1,046 and averaged 8.8 rebounds this season.

Palmisano holds the Southern Section record for three-point baskets in a career, having made 203 of 616. She has made 757 free throws, which is believed to be a section record (official records are not kept).

Thousand Oaks, which finished 30-2 this season, has won two consecutive Southern Section Division 1-A championships with Palmisano at the point. Palmisano will attend UCLA on a basketball scholarship in the fall.

“We ask her to do so much,” Thousand Oaks Coach Chuck Brown said. “She had to bring the ball up the floor, do everything, whereas at UCLA she will probably play off-guard. That should take pressure off her. She will do well.”