The Hawaii males's basketball workforce was in dire want of men who can produce, and Marcus Greene wanted a spot to showcase his expertise earlier than embarking on a projected professional profession.
The latest alternative sounded “too good to be true” for the previous Houston Christian College guard from Gilroy, Calif., who dedicated Thursday to play for the Rainbow Warriors in his remaining yr of school eligibility in 2024-25.
The 6-foot-2 Greene led the Huskies in scoring in 2023-24 and was second in scoring common at 15.1 factors per recreation whereas capturing 42.7% from 3-point vary in his solely season with the Southland Convention program.
He entered the switch window proper after HCU completed the season 6-23 and fired head coach Ron Cottrell on March 7. He stated Hawaii contacted him in mid-April and he took an official go to final weekend.
UH misplaced 4 of its 5 starters and its high six scorers from final season.
“It undoubtedly performed a component,” Greene advised Spectrum Information in a telephone interview. “It's my final yr of school eligibility, so I'm attempting to make an affect wherever I am going. That's what I'm in search of and that's what they're in search of me to do. It's simply time to go to work.”
He stated that St. Bonaventure, which he additionally visited, was one other program he thought of essentially the most. However UH supplied the prospect to make a number of journeys to his house state.
Greene stated he plans to signal with UH after he returns house to Gilroy within the coming days from his spring semester at HCU.
UH shall be Greene's third Division I program. He started his profession as a reserve at Sacramento State and transferred to Panola (Texas) Faculty for a season earlier than returning to DI with HCU.
In response to kenpom.com, HCU was ranked 355 out of 362 DI packages.
However Greene was an efficient participant all through. He performed in and began 28 of a doable 29 video games, shot 45.1% from the sector, 78.6% from the free throw line and led his workforce with 3.0 assists per recreation.
Greene had a career-high 30 factors in a loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on February 26.
“Simply staying diligent in my job, diligent in my craft,” Greene stated of how he persevered by means of the season. “I do know what pictures I can get to, pictures I can hit and actually simply … put within the work so when it comes into play I'm able to hit these pictures. Sadly, yeah, we didn't.” I don't have numerous workforce success, however I might say as a person, staying optimistic, staying within the health club working, so when there have been alternatives in video games (there) to win, I might be prepared to come back out to win.”
He's being supplied some Identify, Picture and Likeness compensation to play at UH, however Greene stated he's extra within the long-term prospects a superb season may present.
UH is believed to have 5 scholarships left to award for subsequent season. UH signed former Utah Tech middle Tanner Christensen this spring and guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor and wing AJ Aconomou final fall.
Brian McInnis covers the state sports activities scene for Spectrum Information Hawaii. He could be reached at brian.mcinnis@constitution.com.
Editor's word: This story has been up to date with an interview with Inexperienced. (Could 2, 2024)
