Tyree Green '21 Recruiting Profile

One accomplishment that sparked a period of personal growth and new understanding of others and myself was winning a state championship. Just to state: this is not some cliché story about an average basketball player from Maryland. Basketball has always been my thing, people say I’ve got a talent: my family, friends, teammates, etc. I started playing seriously when I was 9 years old, but my father always had me around the game, I think it‘s because he wants to live his dream through me. Ever since I began playing, I have never been able to put the basketball down, playing every school year, in multiple leagues at one time. I thank my father for keeping me on the court, because it never gave me time to be in the streets like a young black boy in Baltimore usually turn to. I have watched homeboys, whom I have played with, talented, turn their lives from basketball to drugs, because it was all they could do given their circumstances. I don’t blame them, nor will I ever, because I understand. Although my single father made ends meet, I am not blinded to the streets of Baltimore. There are daily killings here, frequent drug trades, gang wars, and more. This city is a hating one and does not want to see anyone win. If you don’t get a way out with rapping or sports, you’re destined to live paycheck to paycheck in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. This is the case until you enter a basketball court. 

Winning a state championship last school year was special because it was my first ever state championship, and because it was my first year at Lake Clifton High School. Playing there for the Dunbar Alumni Harmon “Tree” Haried was an honor, given that he’s coached for so many years on all levels of basketball, even the men’s USA basketball team. It was an unforgettable time being there, playing on such a well coached and disciplined team. Our basketball games stayed “lit”, the energy is unexplainable. There is a bond created between families who have never met each other, celebrating in triumphs together. After accomplishing the goal of winning a state championship, it showed that all of this is beyond just basketball. It taught me to always cherish every moment you have with the ones close to you because in any moment, it could be the last time we play together or see each other, and to always hold those around you accountable, not because you want embarrass them but because you want to see them succeed. Furthermore, in my experience, over the short period of time being there I felt like everyone there has taught me, from schoolwork to life situations, and everything in between. In the classroom or court, Coach Tree was that enthusiastic coach you would perceive as “too tough” on his players, but once you play for him, you realize he’s just very passionate in the game and cares for his players before anything. It is beyond basketball for him. He’s always been the coach that you can come to as a father figure or mentor, giving you his input on anything when asked whether you liked it or not, he kept it real with you. His style of coaching impacted me in personal growth when he taught me to always have a drive to be hungry for success and never to be content with where you are in life. 

  There is more to me than basketball, but basketball is how I am going to change the things that need changing. Just as Coach Tree has impacted me, I want to have the same effort, and I intend to do that.