After taking a hiatus due to COVID last year, the 2021 Tarkanian Classic returned with 175+ teams spread across multiple gyms in Las Vegas, NV over the span of a week. Featuring elite basketball competition in prep and high school divisions, the must-see annual December high school tournament provided evaluators an opportunity to watch the prestigious NBA Academies in Africa and Latin America, in addition to programs from around the U.S., Canada, and even Germany.
Pro Insight was on hand to cover the event and caught up with Trey Green of Link Academy (MO) and Team Charlotte (NC). Green is a tough floor general who brings vocal leadership as well as facilitating and perimeter shooting skills. On a loaded Link Academy squad, the 6‘0” guard has functioned as a true extension of the coach, helping set the table for the first-year program alongside five-stars Jordan Walsh, Julian Phillips, and Omaha Biliew, as well as 2022 big men Felix Okpara and Tarris Reed, Jr. Against elite national competition, Link Academy finished the Tarkanian Classic Prep Division going 3-0 in its showcase games.
As part of the Pro Insight Q&A series, Green highlighted his leadership style on the court, his hobby of fishing in Branson, the team culture at Link Academy, and much more.
For the next installment of the Pro Insight Q&A series, we present 2023 prospect Trey Green, from Charlotte, North Carolina:
Pro Insight: How did you get to where you are today?
Trey Green: Yeah, so I'm from Charlotte, North Carolina. You know, basketball and sports [were] like a big part of my family’s life. My cousin, Darin Green [Jr.], plays basketball at UCF right now. My dad played quarterback at Duke, uncle played college basketball, and my other uncle played college football. So kind of like you know, it runs in the family where like you know everybody wants to achieve something in the sports world.
PI: Did you play any other sports growing up?
TG: I did. I played football growing up and up until this year…this is my only year not playing football. My dad got me in the game and then basketball just took the love.
PI: What position did you play?
TG: I was playing receiver and I was playing DB so I was on the field a little bit.
PI: For those that aren’t familiar with your game, what are your greatest strengths and play style?
TG: Really like just like you said, the leadership ability being a true point guard, that kind of just played into my game. Before, I was just a scoring guard at the point guard level. So like just being able to control my team, be a leader, be a coach on the court. That kind of just played in my arsenal this past year and I feel like I'm getting better at it.
PI: How do you help your team get comfortable on the floor?
TG: One thing I do is like whenever I see us get down on ourselves or anything, I kind of pull us together and just huddle up and just tell the guys like you know, “let's stick with it. Stay together, do we talk? What makes us 15-0 and we'll be good like just calm down, relax, we got this,” and that kind of how the conversation goes.
PI: Who do you model your game after and try to study on film?
TG: Before, I was kind of a Dame Lillard type guy just because I was…my ability to score the rock, and the clutch situations and everything. Now, it's more towards Steph Curry, who can shoot, who turns himself into a two-guard. You know what I mean? Like moving without the ball at the point guard position. Getting his teammates involved, telling his teammates what to do, being that alpha on the court, and that's kind of why I model after him.
PI: Describe your experience at Link Academy. What was the transition like?
TG: It was definitely big for me because coming from Charlotte, North Carolina and moving to Branson, [Missouri] was like you said, the change of environment and everything, but the overall coaching and everything, it outweighs the outside world and everything. So [you're] getting high level coaching every single day and everything. So it's good.
PI: What are your biggest interests outside of basketball?
TG: I started like ever since I moved out to Branson, I kind of got into a hobby of fishing. Me and my boy K Rice will go pick a day where you know we ain't got nothing to do, get out of class early or whatever. We just go down to the lake and fish for a little bit. Just chill, talk, listen to music and like spending time with the guys like it's a special group of guys where everybody has high major talent and the fact that we have such a strong connection, it kind of shows that actually that's big. You know what I mean? 'Cause it’s not often where you get a bunch of top high major guards or high major players and you know they connect really well like we connect like family. We ain't met like four months ago, like we've known each other our whole lives. That's what it feels like so that's something special.
PI: Did you do team-building activities as a team?
TG: Yeah, it was a whole lot. You know with Coach Perry, so before this season started [and] before school started, actually we went on a retreat when we first moved out to Branson. Took our phones away, just kind of team building, bonding things like that. Just relying on each other, making sure we have each other's back no matter what. So we kind of got that comfortable feeling, took our phones away so you know you gotta make conversation. You know what I mean? Like it's our first month knowing each other. We just seen each other for what, three days? And you know, so like just being able to connect and bond on that level is, it's big.
PI: Who are your favorite music artists?
TG: I like Lil Baby, YoungBoy, G Herbo. I like ‘em all. I listen to ‘em all. I'm really versatile when it comes to music so I listen to everybody, yep.
PI: You have one hashtag to describe yourself. What is it?
TG: I would say #provethemwrong 'cause I'm a shorter guard that…I get knocked off a lot. You know I mean, so just because of the height factor. So I feel like you know I live by prov[ing] them wrong because I got a lot to prove. You know what I mean? So once I prove that, “what else can they say?” You know what I mean? So I feel like #provethemwrong is what I stand on.
PI: What's the best piece of advice you ever received?
TG: I receive advice from everybody, from Coach P[erry] to my dad. You know, I heard it all, but one of the things that I say that I really took to heart. I’d say with Coach P…when I first came in, he was basically telling me about how you know, underrated and I was being looked over and he was saying that none of that matters when you got all the pieces and you could come together with a team. So I feel like that kind of helped build me to what I am right now.
PI: What’s your recruitment update? Who have you been hearing from the most, lately?
TG: There’s been a few that reached out: Kansas, Xavier, Oklahoma — those are the most recent. I still got Nebraska calling, Clemson, [and] Boise State...a lot of colleges that's reaching out to me. Cincinnati, Coach Miller, that's my guy so you know it's a lot of coaches that have been reaching out lately.
PI: What’s an interesting anecdote or funny story you feel is unique or special to your recruitment, specifically?
TG: I haven't really had a funny memory of my recruitment yet I feel like, but one of the things that show love to me that I would say is when you know the coaches like Clemson and Cincinnati called me every day. Like just to check on you know how I'm doing that day. You know what I mean? So it's just stuff like that where they build that connection outside of basketball and that's big.
PI: What will ultimately be your deciding factors when making your choice?
TG: I'll say some of the factors…the relationship we built. That's big to me. I wanna know, “are you gonna have my back through thick and thin, through whatever?” So I feel like just a relationship we build over the recruitment stage is big to me. I wouldn't say that the environment is big, but it isn't at the same time, like I moved from Charlotte to Branson, just to show that I'll go anywhere where I feel is the best fit no matter where it is or anything. So those are some of the major factors for me.
PI: Name four words that best describe you.
TG: I got a word that we got here that's called ‘WIT,’ you know, whatever it takes. I’d say that. Fiery. Energetic. Smart. Funny. Active. I got a whole bunch. You know what I mean? Like I'm just a laid back guy, but at the same time, I’m fiery that you know when it's time, like in between the lines, like I'm all in. You know I mean? So that describes me.
PI: At the end of the day, what do you hope to be remembered for?
TG I feel like I hope to be remembered for…I’d say leave a mark for some of the shorter guards that feel like they couldn't have made it. Like I wanna show that no matter the height, the height doesn't matter on any level. You know what I mean? If you got what it takes, you have what it takes. So just believe in yourself, bet on yourself, and prove them wrong.