Graduate student transfer makes presence felt on team
This season, the Rice University men’s basketball team gained an unconventional new guard. Graduate student Van Green is eligible to play for the Owls for the 2014-15 season because of an untimely end to his undergraduate basketball career at Columbia University. Due to an injury, Green was unable to play for the Lions during his junior and senior years at Columbia. According to NCAA rules, Green is still eligible to compete in a final season.
Green, a Birmingham, Alabama native, matriculated at Columbia in fall 2010 after graduating from Central Park Christian School as valedictorian. At Columbia, he earned a bachelor’s degree and is pursuing a master’s degree in education at Rice.
Green said he appreciates his experiences at Columbia and the opportunities Rice has to offer.
“It’s really a blessing to be able to graduate from Columbia,” Green said. “To be able to come to a school like Rice, I’m trying to get the most out of it that I can.”
Even after his injury during his sophomore year, Green remained committed to basketball and continued to train with Carlin Hartman, an associate head coach for Columbia. When Rice recruited Green during his senior year at Columbia, Hartman prepared to join the Rice basketball staff as an associate head coach in April 2014.
Green said Hartman’s influence contributed to his decision to join the Owls. According to Green, Hartman’s presence at Rice was an appealing prospect.
“I think the big key is Coach Hartman; we were really close when I was at Columbia, and he coached me every day,” Green said. “Once this opportunity opened up, we talked about it and I said [to Hartman], ‘I would love to be a part of it, and I would love to have another year to spend with you.’”
Green said, while playing at Rice is very demanding, the Owls are the closest team Green has joined.
“Practice is going really well,” Green said. “We’re really close, this is the closest team I’ve ever been a part of.”
While he isn’t going to be a consistent member of the starting lineup, Head Coach Mike Rhoades said Green’s experience as a college student and athlete has had a positive influence on the younger players.
“Green has really made a big impact in our program,” Rhoades said. “Not sure how many points he’s going to score or how many steals he’s going to make, but he’s already made a huge impact on our young guys. He’s in the gym every morning with Marcus [Jackson] and Max [Guercy]; he’s leading by example for our younger guys.”
Green said while his unique background benefits him with a wealth of knowledge about collegiate basketball, he is a newcomer to Rice’s program and can relate to his freshmen teammates.
“I am the older guy, so I’m kind of like the big brother on the team, but I’m also a freshman in the aspect that it’s my first year here, and I’m still learning the coaches and the program,” Green said. “The things that the freshmen are going through are the same things I am, but I can also offer a different perspective. Being from Columbia, being an older guy on the team, I just try to give them the advice I have.”
This season, Rice looks to earn a trip to the Conference USA Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. For Green, the tournament being in his hometown provides even more motivation to perform well this season, especially because he hasn’t played in his home state since his high school years.
“I’ve never played in Birmingham, and I was never even close in my four years at Columbia,” Green said. “So to be able to get back to Birmingham would be monumental. I have a lot of family that would love to attend. So yes, it’s very motivating to have the opportunity. For the older guys like myself we’re really pushing everything we have this year because we would love to get to the conference tournament.”
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