Greco Has Eyes On the Prize

By DAVE DESMOND

Dec. 30, 1997 12 AM PT

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

LA CRESCENTA — Michelle Greco is such a perfectionist she once decided not to turn in a piece of math homework because a portion of the paper was creased.

On another occasion, she wrapped the Christmas presents her brother bought for their parents because, “he would have done it wrong.”

Greco, the star of the Crescenta Valley High girls’ basketball team, is the only athlete among The Times’ Eight for ‘98, and that’s perfect.

While coaches, politicians and other movers and shakers shape Valley sports in the coming year, Greco could be the only player capable of single-handedly carrying a team to great heights.

Because of Greco, the Falcons (8-1) enter the week ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times and are among the favorites to capture the Southern Section Division I-AA championship in nine weeks.

“Never bet against a team that has Michelle Greco on it,” a local coach said recently.

Few Valley athletes have ever dominated a sport, or commanded a press conference to announce their choice of colleges, as Greco did in November when she accepted a scholarship to UCLA.

In her first three seasons with the Falcons, Greco has been selected the state’s freshman, sophomore and junior of the year. She is an annual member of the All-Southern Section and All-Valley teams.

Last season, she averaged 34.4 points in the playoffs. She scored 34 points in a 59-55 loss to powerful Buena in the Division I-A final. Greco scored 54 points in another playoff game.

Last month, she was chosen a preseason All-American by several publications. Fox Sports West 2 has shot a television feature about her.

But the 5-foot-10 senior guard-forward is hardly satisfied. Her otherwise perfect resume still is missing a Southern Section title.

“Sometimes, at night, I close my eyes and imagine us jumping up and down, celebrating after winning it all,” said Greco, Crescenta Valley’s all-time leading scorer who eclipsed 2,000 career points in her first game this season. “I really want it bad.”

College recruiters have wanted Greco since her freshman season, only her third in organized basketball, when she began to receive letters from colleges.

UCLA finally won out over USC and UC Santa Barbara.

“What makes her special, what sets her apart from almost all other athletes is her pure competitive greatness,” UCLA assistant coach Pam Walker said. “If you were to thumb wrestle her, she would want desperately to beat you.”

That spirit was evident in a recent game at the prestigious Tournament of Champions in Santa Barbara.

Crescenta Valley was trailing New York Christ the King, the nation’s No. 1 team, by 17 points in the fourth quarter when New York City player of the year Sue Bird took off for a breakaway layup.

Most players would have allowed an uncontested basket. Not Greco.

She caught Bird from behind, got her hand on top of the ball as Bird went up, then threw both ball and player to the floor.

The crowd, which included many of the nation’s best players, stood and roared its approval.

“That’s part of her greatness,” Crescenta Valley Coach Damian Scribner said. “She’s proven just about everything she could possibly prove at this level.

“She easily could just lace up her shoes and just have fun, but she keeps working, trying to get better and maintains that focus and determination.”