Middlesboro standout swingman Blaine Green signed his national letter of intent to play basketball at Alice Lloyd College earlier this week at Middlesboro High School. Pictured above, from left: Seated are Blaine’s father Elgie Green, Blaine, his mother Debbie Green, and sister Blaire Green. Standing are Blaine’s uncle Chris Green, his coach at MHS Bill Jones, MHS principal Sheila Smith, Alice Lloyd head coach J.R. Hammond and MHS assistant principal Waylon Allen.
“I’m just extremely excited to know I’ll be getting an education for free,” Green said after signing his letter of intent Monday. “That’s the most important thing. Plus I’ll be playing for a team whose coach has been amazing to me since I went there. He showed me everything and told me about opportunities that I’ll have. I just want to thank him and can’t wait to get back up there and start playing.”
Alice Lloyd is an NAIA school located in Pippa Passes, Kentucky, about 30 miles east of Hazard.
Coach J.R. Hammond just completed his first season with the Eagles and he was impressed with Green’s scoring ability and ability to play multiple positions on the court.
“Blaine has a lot of versatility with his height and his strength. He can guard the post players but with his athleticism and ability to shoot the ball and handle it we can play him out on the wing,” Hammond said. “Obviously he’s going to cause a lot of mismatches for other teams trying to guard him.
“That’s something I look for. We run a dribble-drive offense and I can see teams putting a big guy on him because of his strength and he’s going to be quicker than them.”
The coach added that Green will have the opportunity to play right away for the Eagles.
“In my system if you earn it you get it,” Hammond said of playing time. “As strong as he is already I don’t see a lot that should hold him back.”
Green plans to study physical therapy at Alice Lloyd and said their educational programs were one of the reasons he was drawn to the school.
“When I went up to see the campus I just loved it. Everybody was friendly and talking to me,” he said. “Another reason is that Isaac Wilson from Corbin is going to be my point guard and I’m really looking forward to having the chance to play with him. I think that’s going to be awesome.”
Green has started for four years at MHS and has been one of the team’s top scorers since his freshman year.
As a junior he helped lead to team to their first district championship in over a decade and into the 13th Region semifinals.
“Blaine’s been one of the best players we’ve had for several years. He’s started for us since he was a freshman, reached 1,000-points as a junior and probably has over 1600 for his career,” said out-going Middlesboro basketball coach Bill Jones. “The thing about Blaine Green is that he’s a leader both on and off the floor. In school he’s a role-model for the other players and sets a good example in the classroom.
“He’ll be sorely missed at Middlesboro High School but we’re happy for him. Alice Lloyd is getting a terrific player and a terrific person.”
Green said he’s had plenty of help in developing as a player and a person over the years.
“I just want thank my coach, my parents and my school for supporting me and helping to get to this point.”
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