Dateline: 7/30/2009
Montana goes back to Oakland
John Green
is a Small forward From Oakland Castlemont California. He plays for AAU: Bay Area Hoosiers Ht: 6-foot-5 Class: 2010 (High School) The past, present and glimpses into the future of an Oakland family's relationship with basketball as a means for life success is the story arc here. We're talking the Green family, with rising senior Castlemont High very interested in Montana with Sac State and Portand State making Calls.
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http://norcalpreps.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=91224
The Greening of Oakland
Kevin McCarthy
The past, present and glimpses into the future of an Oakland family’s relationship with basketball as a means for life success is the story arc here. We’re talking the Green family, with rising senior Castlemont High star John Green as the current lead actor exploring the options that will facilitate his future on and off the court.
Green continues the family lineage The initial item noteworthy about Green is the smoothness and thoughtfulness of his communication. Although still in his teens, he already displays a skill set that should have prime time media seeking out his services, sports-related or not. It’s clear he has given much thought to what he speaks of and his delivery is compelling -- this despite not turning 17 until August.
But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.
First there was 6-foot-6 Reggie Green starring at Castlemont in the early 1970s. He played for legendary basketball coach David Shigematsu, graduating with academic honors in 1973. "At Castlemont, I played with Jeff Randle," Green recalled. "He was the Sidney Wicks of his time and he went on to school and basketball at USF. I was more like Paul Silas (another Oaklander), a rebounder and shotblocker. We went 66-6 in three years and we were undefeated in our senior year."
Green earned a basketball scholarship to Seattle University, then a basketball power and a member of the West Coast Athletic Conference. He played with future NBA-ers Frank Oleynick and Rod Derline in the Emerald City before graduating with a degree in sociology.
A fascinating aspect about his tenure at Seattle is it came about because he was offered a fifth year on scholarship if he needed it to complete his degree -- as he requested. Other schools wouldn’t make that commitment. "I was sort of the Curt Flood of the NCAA," Green said.
He then earned his living playing basketball in Europe until 1984.
After overseas ball, Green returned home to Oakland, unsure what to do next. Ultimately, he entered the world of real estate, worked his way up to a broker position and the status today of a successful businessman and entrepreneur.
Maybe more importantly, he stays connected and gives back to Castlemont High as a participant in Career Days, advising students on how to achieve their particular goals.
Enter John Green.
The younger Green was honored as a first team member of the All Oakland Athletic League in 2008-2009, the only underclassman to achieve such recognition. A critical part of that honor was based on his season statistics of 14.7 points (81% from the foul line), eight rebounds and two assists and steals per game. Castlemont went 17-9 under legendary Coach Hodari McGavock, the former Oakland Tech mentor.
"I loved basketball since I was a kid," the 6-foot-5 Green said when asked why hoops and not say football or another sport. His father brought him to the gym when he was playing in an over 35 hoops league and the exposure took. "I became an Oakland Rebels [club team] player and I was watching Michael Jordan films," Green remembered. "I also still remember seeing Shaq missing a free throw but then dunking the long rebound."
As for his best basketball skills, Green offered, "My basketball IQ, plus my versatility, leadership and decision-making." He not just watches games at all levels but focuses in on the what and when players do something with the ball. Green has played inside quite often in high school due to Castlemont not having much height and he has made the most of this by mastering the footwork and moves that are needed to be effective in the paint. An 83-inch wingspan also helps. His game gains distance with the Hoosiers because others on that team can play in the middle.
What he is working on the most is "tightening up my ballhandling and becoming more consistent with my jumper."
Green scored 30 points recently in a tournament game in Cincinnati when the Hoosiers were short-handed due to injuries. His take: "I had no idea I scored that many, it didn’t feel like it."
He sensed early on that a basketball scholarship was within reach. "As a freshman in high school, I was moved up to the varsity," he said, "and in the last ten seconds of the last game of the season, playing with all seniors but me, I hit a floater that tied the game and we went on to win."
His grade point average stands at a very healthy 3.4 and he already has a sense of what major he will gravitate to come college. "Right now, I’m looking at sports medicine because I plays sports and am interested in medicine or communications because that would help me in coaching or doing sports analysis."
Regarding which college, well, the pool of suitors is beginning to get crowded of late. Green played at the Washington State elite camp in June and has an on-going relationship with head coach Ken Bone and assistant Curtis Allen from their days of wooing Green when the pair was still at Portland State.
As for his ultimate decision, it will come down to a good fit based on the playing system and coaching style, the level of academics and the campus culture.
But first their is this: "My immediate goals are for Castlemont to be the league champions next year and me to be named the most valuable player."
He already has captured being the epitome of a student-athlete.
http://www.calcentral.com/~computehandsfree/bb/NCP072009.htm
