By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Senior basketball guard Bryant Greene is all set to graduate from Appalachian State’s Walker College of Business and become the next generation in the family business, Boone-based cabbage producer Hollar & Greene, but those plans have recently been put on hold — with everyone’s blessing.
Instead, Greene will take advantage of his extra “COVID-19 year” of eligibility and return to play basketball for the Mountaineers during the 2023-24 academic year.
“The injury certainly had a lot to do with my decision,” Greene told High Country Sports on Feb. 20, the first day he was officially cleared to resume playing basketball for the 2022-23 season after injuring his foot last fall, “and that isn’t the way I want to go out my senior year, being hurt. I also talked to my family and Coach Kerns, as well as to other staff members.
“I really enjoy being on a team and there are only a certain number of years you can be part of this,” Greene continued. “My father (Tim Greene) said, ‘You can work for the rest of your life but you might as well be part of the team while you can.’ I really do enjoy it and I want to see App State Basketball succeed up here in the High Country. So, why not stay another year?”
When asked about Greene’s decision, App State men’s basketball head coach Dustin Kerns didn’t hesitate.
“I was ecstatic,” said Kerns, of learning about Greene’s decision. “This year has been difficult with the injury, but Bryant was playing good basketball before the injury, so to see him want to stick around I was really, really excited about that. He is a culture guy, a program guy. Having a guy who has been in the program for five years will be very beneficial. As a Boone native and someone who I think wants to live in Boone, it means a lot to him and his family to be a part of the App State program. As the head coach, I am ecstatic about his decision.”
The Watauga High School alum earned all-Northwestern Conference and all-District honors in high school, but has primarily been a scout team performer for the Mountaineers, a role he has relished even though every athlete wants to be on the court when the game is on the line.
“I don’t really think about my role,” said Greene. “In practice, I just try to go as hard as I can and push my teammates. If my role changes, it changes, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I am just here to help us win, however that is done, however I can contribute.”
Given that Greene will be a fifth year veteran, Kerns was asked whether Greene’s role had the potential to change.
“I think it could change,” said Kerns of Greene’s role next year. “And that could be both on and off the court. I think it is safe to say that his role has the potential to change just being a guy who has been in the program a long time. He has worked hard.”
Greene’s role these past few years as “the villain,” in practices often taking on the persona as the next opponent’s best player in order to better prepare the Mountaineers’ starters and top guys in the rotation, has paid huge dividends in terms of his basketball IQ. He has studied a lot of film, examined a lot fof themes.
“Performing in that role could very well prepare him for being a basketball coach one day,” said Kerns. “Officially, he was cleared to be back today, playing. But even in being out, Bryant was still here, observing.
“Typically, when a guy is out for any length of time, like the four months Bryant was sidelined,” added Kerns, “on their first day back, as coaches we are reminding them of things, explaining things like terminology. But there was nothing of that today with Bryant. He picked up just like he had practiced with us last week.
“As coaches, we didn’t have to coach him up as he rejoined the team on the court today,” said Kerns. “He has been observant. He knows what to do. From that standpoint, there is certainly the potential translation to being a coach one day. He is always very mindful of what is going on, on the court.”
Greene himself admits that coaching in the future is in the realm of possibility.
“I have definitely learned a lot about basketball since being here,” said Greene. “After college basketball for one more season, I will focus on getting started in my family’s business, Hollar & Greene, but I definitely can see the potential for helping out with Watauga basketball someday. Maybe not as a head coach, but helping in some capacity, if they want me.”
Asked what he thought of the current Watauga men’s team and its No. 28 seeding in the 4A state playoffs, Greene said, “That is a dangerous No. 28 seed. Watauga is one of those teams where if they hit those threes, they are dangerous. They are one of those teams that could heat up real quick and beat anybody.”
Greene said that his academic major was in supply chain management, but he is working on a risk management and insurance minor.
“Next year,” he said, “I may go after another business major or start grad school (presumably and MBA). I haven’t really decided yet.
“Supply chain is a big thing for our family business because we grow and ship cabbage all over the world. It is a complete supply chain thing. And then, my uncle, Tony, is in a risk management and insurance position, so our discussion about those topics have led to my interest there. I did an internship with him and am currently working on a case study. I want to learn every aspect of it and I will probably travel around with him some this summer, some insurance workshops and stuff.”
But that is all in the future. While college athletics is a “job” for many athletes, not for Bryant Greene.
“I wouldn’t call it a job at all. I really love working out with the team and hanging out with the team after practice. Obviously, I enjoy every aspect of it or I wouldn’t be coming back. Not many people get to do this, so I don’t want to take it for granted. And this is a great coaching staff. I enjoy working with them every single day. Dustin Kerns is a great coach and he has some great assistants. It is a great staff to be around, every single day,” said Greene.
