SAFE HAVEN IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: GREENER PASTURES MONTCLAIR PREP WING THRIVING AFTER ESCAPING TROUBLE IN WISCONSIN.Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer Life in Beloit, Wis., didn't suit Anthony Green Anthony Green may refer to:
``There were a lot of distractions there,'' he said. In November, Green, 18, moved to Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, and enrolled at Montclair Prep of Panorama City, where he's flourishing on the basketball court and has found a safe haven 1. Designated area(s) to which noncombatants of the United States Government's responsibility and commercial vehicles and materiel may be evacuated during a domestic or other valid emergency. 2. off it. ``We didn't know much about him or his past at first, but he's fit in just fine here,'' Montclair Prep coach Greg Patterson said. ``He's a great kid who just wants to play basketball.'' The 6-foot-4 senior wing is shooting 57 percent from the field and averaging 13.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game for the Mounties (15-8 overall, 3-2 Olympic League), No. 2 in Daily News' Small Schools rankings. Basketball was the one positive in Green's life as he grew up in Wisconsin. He met his father just once, visiting him in prison, and says his mother's drug problem often left him as primary caretaker for his three sisters. He worked odd jobs odd jobs npl → chapuzas fpl odd jobs npl → petits travaux divers odd jobs odd npl → in his early teens to make ends meet while going to school and excelling on the hardwood hardwood: see wood. hardwood Timber obtained from broad-leaved, flower-bearing trees. Hardwood trees are deciduous trees, except in the warmest regions. for Beloit High. Following a standout sophomore season, Green verbally committed to Marquette and had the opportunity to practice with the Golden Knights' Dwyane Wade Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. (born January 17, 1982) is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His nicknames include "Flash" and "D-Wade". , who would go on to NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= stardom star·dom n. 1. The status of a performer or entertainer acknowledged as a star. 2. Star performers considered as a group. with the Miami Heat The Miami Heat (known as the HEAT [in all capital letters] on official team publications) are a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). . Green was on his way, about to make a future for himself after years of difficult circumstances. Then things fell apart. Green says his his mother didn't approve of him going to Marquette and thought he could play at a more prominent program. It became a distraction on the court and in the classroom, and Marquette's interest - and that of other Division I programs - subsided. ``I had to get out of there,'' Green said. ``Beloit is not a place you want to raise a family and retire.'' He turned to Beloit coach Shane Bautch, who welcomed Green into his home at 17 and served as a mentor, friend and father figure. Bautch, Green's middle school principal, Carol Langley, and AAU AAU abbr. Amateur Athletic Union coach Bob Gottlieb explored the confused youngster's options and decided the West Coast was the place for him. ``Beloit is a unique place with a low socioeconomic community,'' Bautch said. ``Anthony was exposed to some alternate-thought processes that most kids shouldn't be subjected to. There's an expectation to be a thug. An expectation to not care about anything. You're not supposed to be respectful. ``You wouldn't believe some of the stuff the people in his life used to do to him. His mom's heart was not in the right place sometimes. She wasn't equipped to be a parent. It was a kid-raising-a-kid scenario. It was a dysfunctional situation. ``Anthony had apologize for trying to do something good for himself. To his credit, he did an unbelievably good job at making everything work for everyone involved. He never severed sev·er v. sev·ered, sev·er·ing, sev·ers v.tr. 1. To set or keep apart; divide or separate. 2. To cut off (a part) from a whole. 3. ties with his family. He's a special kid. Me and my wife consider him family, like the son we never had.'' Montclair Prep offered Green a scholarship, and he lives in on-campus dorms. He's on track to graduate in June, a goal he might not have been able to accomplish if not for the change of scenery. ``I owe a lot to coach Bautch,'' Green said. ``I was blessed to have some very special people in my life.'' He's made new friends along the way, such as Mounties teammates Bobby Webb and Craig Partovich, who combine for 34.2 points per game. With Green, they form one of the area's most potent partnerships, providing Montclair Prep the firepower fire·pow·er n. 1. The capacity, as of a weapon, weapons system, military unit, or position, for delivering fire. 2. The ability to deliver fire against an enemy in combat. Noun 1. to make a run at another Southern Section Div. IV-A title. ``This is the right place for me at the right time,'' Green said. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what I'd be doing if I wasn't playing basketball. I'm thankful every day for the opportunity.'' Sean Ceglinsky, (818) 713-3607 sean.ceglinsky(at)dailynews.com REALLY HOT HAND Ryan Brooks has the ``green light,'' Reseda coach David Goosen says, to shoot anytime from anywhere on the court. And why not, considering he's among the area's hottest perimeter players. The 6-foot-3 guard is making more than 52 percent of his attempts from 3-point range, has scored 30 or more points in back-to-back games - five times in all - and has the Regents poised for a late-season run at the Valley Mission League title. ``We actually yell at him sometimes for not shooting,'' Goosen said. ``Our up-tempo, run-and-gun offense really suits Ryan.'' Brooks, who is being recruited by Cal State Fullerton, was nearly perfect Wednesday, making 7 of 7 shots from 3-point range and 11 of 11 from the free-throw line free-throw line n. See foul line. . He finished with 34 points in a 74-58 victory over Monroe of North Hills. He hit nine 3-pointers and scored 39 points against St. Bonaventure of Ventura in late December. Reseda (15-5, 3-2) is two games out of first place with five remaining in the regular season, and it faces a showdown Wednesday against first-place Sylmar (10-7, 5-0), which won the first meeting by seven points. CAPTION(S): photo, 6 boxes Photo: Montclair Prep's Anthony Green, with ball, is flourishing on the court and in the classroom since arriving from Wisconsin. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News Box: (1) THEY SAID IT (2) SEVEN-DAY FORECAST (3) DAILY NEWS' TOP 20 (4) SMALL SCHOOLS (5) TOP 10 SCORES (6) LEAGUE UPDATES By Sean Ceglinsky |
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