Al Green doesn’t carry himself like most college guards.
He’s not loud on social media. He doesn’t talk about who overlooked him. There’s no ego. Just a quiet edge, the kind you get from sleeping in a garage in San Diego, working 25-hour weeks at a grocery store, and playing JUCO basketball with no scholarship, no housing, and no guarantees.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard from Sacramento’s Franklin High School took the long way here. He earned his way through California JUCOs, broke out at Louisiana Tech, and now finds himself entering his senior season at UNLV, ready to be a voice, a defender, a shot-maker, and a leader.
He’s been overlooked before. That doesn’t bother him.
But now? Now he’s got a platform.
And he's got something to say.
“I Had to Be a Normal Person Before I Could Just Play Ball”
Green’s journey started like a lot of West Coast hoopers: under the radar, under-recruited, and hungry. When COVID wiped out his first season at Sierra College, he transferred to San Diego City College and found himself doing everything but just hooping.
“I was living in a garage with three people. Rent was $925. I was working at a grocery store, doing Uber Eats, trying to keep up in school,” he told The Scarlet Standard. “You had to love basketball. That’s the only way I kept going.”
At one point, he was playing games at 3 p.m., clocking in at 7 p.m., and getting off work past midnight. But the grind hardened him. It gave him perspective.
“It built character,” he said. “It made me appreciate the little things — the Gatorade, the gear, the travel meals. When you’ve had to pay for all of it yourself, none of it feels small.”
The Breakthrough at Louisiana Tech
After JUCO, Green landed at Louisiana Tech, a gritty Conference USA program known for defense and toughness. The adjustment was real. For the first time, he had resources, a full locker room, and the pressure of Division I expectations.
“At JUCO, you’re hooping on raw talent. At Tech, it’s different — there’s lifting, film, nutrition. You have to learn how to play within a system.”
Once he settled in, Green became one of the team’s most reliable two-way guards. He ended his final game in Ruston with 28 points, his career high, and didn’t make a single three. That’s ironic, considering his greatest strength is his jumper.
“That last game, I just got to the rim, got fouled, made the right plays. But yeah, shooting is what I’m known for. I pride myself on being a sniper.”
But ask Green what he really takes pride in? Defense.
“Defense is personal to me. You don’t need the ball to change a game,” he said. “Even if a guy’s 6-6 or 6-7, I want that matchup. I’m going to study their habits, their footwork, their shoulders — all of it.”
A New Chapter in Vegas
When Green entered the portal, he was looking for three things: pace, development, and structure. UNLV head coach Josh Pastner gave him all three.
“I was literally in Vegas dropping off my stuff from Louisiana when he called,” Green said. “He said, ‘You’re already in town? Then it’s meant to be. You’re a Rebel now, baby.’”
Green saw the vision. The Rebels are building around toughness, versatility, and culture. He fit all three.
“I didn’t want to go somewhere just to play. I wanted to grow. They’re going to develop my full game here.”
That includes giving him freedom to make plays in transition, create off screens, and pressure the ball full court. But make no mistake, Green isn’t just here to fill minutes. He’s here to lead.
“I don’t scream in the huddle. But I’ll be in the gym at 7 a.m. If I tell a guy to shoot more or lock in on D, it’s because I’ve already done it. That’s how I lead.”
Not Just Basketball — Vegas Fits in Other Ways
Off the court, Green isn’t chasing clubs or strip lights. His Vegas is different.
“I’m low-key. I’m more into food. I follow Keith Lee, I’m trying all the food spots,” he said. “Lefty J’s, Taste Buds, Blueberry Hill — I’m a foodie.”
He also claims Crave Cookies has “the best cookie I’ve ever had.” If they’re reading this, he’s open to NIL.
Oh, and one more thing: he used to be a sponsored skateboarder as a kid.
“I’ve still got clips on YouTube somewhere,” he laughed. “I did it for years before basketball really took over.”
What He Wants You to Know
When asked what he wants Rebel fans to say when his time is done, Green didn’t hesitate.
“That I played hard — every time. That I gave everything. That I earned it.”
It’s not hard to believe.
Every chapter of his story, from grocery bags to defensive assignments to 28-point performances, has been written with the same formula: work.
And now, as a senior guard with a real platform, Al Green’s finally getting the shot he earned the long way.
Vegas might not know his name yet.
But by the time March rolls around?
They will.