Who can deny Don MacLean that sentiment? Not with a sterling basketball career that began at Simi Valley High, took him to UCLA and featured eight seasons in the NBA. Today, MacLean remains connected to his sport as the radio/television commentator for UCLA men's basketball.

"Sometimes it's hard not to live in the moment, especially as a high school athlete," said MacLean, a 1989 graduate of Simi Valley High who is still the county's all-time leading scorer with 2,343 points. "I think it's important to work and prepare as hard as you can, and take advantage of every opportunity before you. You don't want to look back in 15 or 20 years and think about what could have been.

The illustrious Fab Five also features Eric Wynalda, a Westlake High graduate who forged a sterling career in professional soccer and with U.S. men's soccer; Andres Herrera, a two-sport standout at Santa Clara High and now an Oxnard city councilman; Kathy Slaten-Ayala, the dominating softball pitcher from La Reina High and Cal State Northridge who still holds seven major NCAA pitching records; and Teresa Palmisano, the basketball whiz from Buena High and UC Berkeley who has played professionally in six countries.

Only Wynalda couldn't make it to Sunday's event, and with good reason. The ESPN soccer commentator is an analyst on World Cup telecasts. His 8-year-old daughter Brooke accepted Wynalda's hall of fame honor.

Winning scholarship awards were Marissa Romero, who played basketball at Pacifica, and Johnny Carrillo, a basketball and baseball player from Santa Paula.

Among college athletes, football player Charles Dillon of Ventura College was selected as the male athlete of the year. Dillon is a graduate of Hueneme High.

The Class of 2006, which increases the membership in the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame to 121, presents shining role models for area athletes.

"You always want to give your best," said Palmisano, a 1987 graduate of Buena High. "Sports teaches you that hard work pays off, and it also teaches you that there are different ways to achieve your goals. If you can't get there one way, keep at it and find a different way to get it done.

"There are so many good things you can achieve by working hard," said Slayton-Ayala, a 1982 graduate of La Reina High. "Do your best, find out what you want to do and go for it. There are so many opportunities out there for whatever you want to go after in life."

Slayton-Ayala amassed 17 no-hitters, a record of 42-7 and two CIF-SS championships (and one runner-up) at La Reina High. She was just getting started. At Cal State Northridge, Slayton-Ayala threw 20 no-hitters and two perfect games in leading her program to two NCAA Division II championships.

Palmisano led Buena High to a CIF-SS championship and state championship in girls' basketball in 1984, and was a three-time All-CIF-SS and all-state athlete.

While the door remains open to return to Europe as a player, she intends to earn her graduate degree at Azuza Pacific and launch a second career as a coach.

MacLean led Simi Valley to the CIF-SS 4A championship in 1988, averaged 31.5 points as a senior and became one of the nation's most sought-after recruits. He chose UCLA, where he started four seasons for coach Jim Harrick. He remains the all-time leader scorer for UCLA and the Pacific-10 Conference with 2,608 points.

He attended San Diego State, was named to the U.S. National Team as a junior, and went on to play 11 seasons in Major League Soccer from 1994 to 2001.

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