Crescenta Valley alumna Michelle Greco voted one of CIF’s all-time best

Michelle Greco proved she could play basketball at every level. She enjoyed a fabulous career at Crescenta Valley High before moving on to UCLA and then playing professionally.

It was at Crescenta Valley where Greco began to make a name for herself. With a splendid jump shot and impeccable leadership skills, Greco helped put the Crescenta Valley High girls’ basketball team on the map.

Greco, who graduated from Crescenta Valley in 1998, remains the program’s all-time scoring leader with 2,397 points. She also played tennis and softball at Crescenta Valley.

For her excellence on the hardwood, Greco was selected to the CIF 100th anniversary Winter All-Century team Thursday. The team was nominated and voted on by the public.

“When you talk about athletes, she’s one of the best to come out of the area,” said Alan Eberhart, a former Crescenta Valley softball coach who Greco played one season under. “Her athleticism was incredible at any of the sports she played.

“She’s very unique and as competitive as anybody could be. She knew how to make the transition from sport to sport. She had a great jump shot and could drive so well to the basket. Michelle wasn’t going to fail in anything she tried to do.”

Greco helped the Falcons win four Pacific League championships and secured numerous All-Area, all-league, All-CIF and state accolades.

As a point guard at UCLA, Greco finished 15th on the all-time school scoring list with 1,158 points and her 288.

Greco then helped the Seattle Storm win the WNBA championship in 2004 — her first and only season in the WNBA — and then headed overseas to Europe to play several seasons.

Also at Crescenta Valley, Greco won three Pacific League doubles titles and a singles championship as the Falcons ruled the roost in the Pacific League during her time.

Greco was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in 2008.

“If she had to fix something in her game, she did it right away,” said Tom Gossard, a longtime former CV tennis coach who had Greco for four years. “She’s one of the best competitors I’ve ever had or seen.

“She really gave it her all in basketball and she was a great teammate. To be one of the top 100 players in the state tells you all you need to know and how much respect she has.”

Anita Siraki and Margarito Cassilas of Hoover were named to the All-Century Fall team after enjoying solid cross-country careers.