Uncertain, unlikely, and undeterred is just one alliteration that could be used to describe the 2023-24 season for third-year guard David Green of the University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team.
The transfer from Louisiana Tech University lived a life in limbo from his transfer announcement in the middle of the 2022-23 season until December 2023.
If this was Green’s first collegiate transition, the switch would have been rather seamless. However, Green’s first year in college created another obstacle.
Green played at Hofstra University during the 2020-21 season, starting in eight of his 18 appearances. This addition to his resumé enacted the two-time transfer rule sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The rule entailed that any two-time transfer had to sit out a year of play before they could continue in competition, unless they submitted a waiver to the NCAA which would be approved or denied.
When Green transferred to Rhode Island in May of 2023, the long and rigorous appeal process began: A process that went through preseason, past the beginning of the season, and all the way until Nov. 30, 2023 when it was ultimately denied.
“I felt bad [when I was denied], I felt like I was working towards something that got taken away from me,” Green said. “But I kept the faith. I didn’t know how, I didn’t know when, but I knew some way I was going to play this year.”
Green’s blind confidence finally came to fruition on Dec. 15, 2023 when the NCAA lifted the two-time transfer ban, saying they would re-evaluate the situation at the end of the season.
“[Hearing I would be able to play] felt great, it felt like my prayers were answered and I finally got to show what I’ve been working on,” Green said. “Whatever I went through in the past, it didn’t matter.”
Despite the NCAA’s decision, Green remained out of the lineup for a few weeks, remaining on the bench for a pre-holiday clash with the University of New Hampshire on Dec. 21, 2023.
However, David was finally given the “Green” light to compete when the Rams hosted Northeastern University on Dec. 30, 2023. Rhode Island, who had lost five straight at that point, was in desperate need of a spark, and Green brought that fire.
Playing 21 minutes off the bench, Green scored 15 points, helping the Rams to a 82-71 win, giving Rhody their first win in December two days from its conclusion.
Green’s impact on the court continued in their next contest in an upset victory against Saint Joseph’s when he led the Rams in scoring with 16 points. The victory came as the second win in an eventual four game winning streak for Rhode Island.
Green, at times, has gotten into foul trouble though, playing under 20 minutes against Davidson and Fordham due to early infractions. Head Coach Archie Miller is understanding of these errors given Green’s circumstances.
“It’s tough to enter the fray with no game experience and just jump into the fold and sort of just ‘be the guy’,” Miller said. “You know you’re going to go through your own confidence issues, you’re going to go through your own fouls, your own adjustment period at times, so he’s gone through that in this month of January.”
Calling January an “adjustment period” for Green makes his impact just that much more impressive. His 15.1 points per game ranks first on the team and his 5.1 rebounds per game places him third on the Rams. His impact so far this season could even be described as electric.
“[David] is by far in a way a lightning rod for our confidence when he’s there, when he plays minutes, when he plays extended minutes, is really important,” Miller said.
Green’s ceiling seemingly continues to become shattered. The latest breakthrough: his career-high 29 point performance versus George Mason University, in which he scored 22 in the first half. A performance such as that displayed just how much he can produce when he is able to play those meaningful minutes.
“I feel like I’m getting my groove back,” Green said. “I feel like I’m settling in more and more every game.”
In terms of Green’s impact, it goes beyond scoring or rebounding, it stems from how he acts as a teammate.
“Clearly he’s a leader on our team and whoever runs your locker room really controls the atmosphere. If he’s down, we’ll be down, if he’s not down, we won’t be down,” Miller said.
Green, Miller, and the rest of the Rams will be back in action when they host Duquesne University on Feb. 3, at 12:30 p.m. The game can be watched on USA Network.