Jordan v. Jordan: Green takes Kirkland through fish season

Jordan Kirkland: How did you feel personally playing against Texas A&M-C.C. this past weekend, given it was your first start here at Texas A&M?

Jordan Green: “I thought I played well. I played hard on the defensive and offensive end. I just left it all on the court, which is what our coaches want us to do. As a team, we can always improve, we didn’t do as well as we should have, which obviously the score reflects. We have a lot of room for improvement and we have a long season ahead of us. We have good teams coming in this Wednesday and Saturday, so we’ll be prepared for those. I thought I gave it my all, and I just try to play hard.”

JK: When you chose Texas A&M, did you know that you would be getting so much playing time as a freshman, and even starting in multiple games?

Green: “No I didn’t. I came in this summer, and was totally taken aback by the talent that we have here. I knew we had great players like Khris, Elston, Naji, and Dash as the guards. I played with them during the summer, and I knew that I had a lot of improvement to do. I just worked my butt off, I got in the gym everyday with Jamal and I guess I improved enough and impressed the coaches enough to have enough confidence in me to take the court and fill the void of Khris being out right now.”

JK: What have you learned so far from Coach Kennedy and Coach Cyprien?

Green: “From Coach Kennedy, I’ve definitely learned patience. Jamal and I want things to happen on the court really fast, but he really stresses patience and moving the ball around. On the defensive side, Coach Cyprien is really coaching me to lay it all out there on the court and guard anybody. He said I can guard anyone out there, so I’ve just been working on technique. They have both been working on mindset out there because the collegiate game is a mental game. They are helping me out tremendously and I definitely appreciate them.

JK: You just got back from New York City last week, where you got to play in Madison Square Garden. What was that like?

Green: “It’s one of the world’s most famous arenas, the mecca of basketball. My dad was telling me the history of how many games he’s watched on TV there, and he finally got a chance to see the venue. My parents both had the opportunity to come watch me and visit the arena. It was on ESPN for my grandmother and grandfather to watch. Playing in Madison Square Garden and starting was a great opportunity. The arena was a little bit smaller than I thought it would be, but it was just awesome to see all the banners. I walked in there and was a little starstruck to begin with, but once the lights came on I felt comfortable out there on the court. I thought it was really fun.”

JK: You were the first basketball player in school history at Flower Mound High school to sign a Division I scholarship. What did that honor mean to you?

Green: “It definitely was something important for our high school. Just to get them on the map, and my coach really helped me out in high school, pushing me, and teaching me exactly what Coach Kennedy is teaching me today. Our school is fairly new, only about 10 years of varsity basketball, so it definitely meant a lot to our basketball program. I moved from Detroit and came in and just tried my best and gave it my all. I always put in extra work, and my coach gave me opportunities to let me play my game, and the collegiate coaches around the nation saw that.”

JK: You were a highly recruited player out of high school ... what made you choose Texas A&M University?

Green: “Texas A&M is the only visit I took. I just fell in love as soon as I came on campus. I definitely like the atmosphere here, the academics, the people that go here, it’s a family atmosphere. Like everyone said, there’s a spirit here. I definitely felt that, and I kind knew after I was done looking at the places I would live, eat, practice. I just fell in love with A&M the first time I saw it.”

JK: You have quite a family tree when it comes to basketball talent with Danny Green winning a National Championship at UNC and Gerald Green being drafted out of high school. Have they been helping you out?

Green: “Definitely Danny has been helping me out a little bit. He’s watching a lot of my games, and just keeps telling me to be more aggressive. I tell him though that I’m only a freshman and there’s only so much I can do. He’s definitely helped me out confidence-wise. Gerald is overseas so I haven’t talked to him much.”

JK: What cousin, Danny or Gerald, do you think you are most like on the court?

Green: “In high school, I think I was more like Gerald because I dunked a lot. This collegiate level is a totally different game, and Danny can dunk a lot too. I think I’m more like Danny because I’m a more defensive/mesh guy who likes to play defense, offense, passing, everything.”

JK: You aren’t just a basketball player; you are getting an education here at A&M and are majoring in interdisciplinary studies. What do you want to do with that degree?

Green: “I have plans to be a teacher after I graduate. A lot of teachers had a big effect on my life. I’m taking a lot of education classes here, and I love all of my professors. I want to be an educator and teach high school history.”

JK: How are the preparations coming for the game Wednesday night at 7:00 vs. Alcorn State?

Green: “We’re going to try to get at them really fast. Something just needs to click with our team, and I think that’s going to happen this Wednesday.”