Basketball has been a lifelong passion for Kyle Green, 17, a senior at Camden Catholic High School.
“Ever since I was a little kid,” he said, surrounded by Fighting Irish emblems in the gym.
The athlete has been nominated for this year’s McDonald’s All American Game, now in its 36th year, and selections happen soon.
“In the summer, we had AAU workouts at Lower Merion High School,” Green, a Woodbury resident, said, and scouts were watching. He and some of his other teammates in the Jersey Shore Warriors program were chosen for the nominations, he said.
Green has recently achieved an all-time school record for points scored, according to Camden Catholic’s website.
“My freshman year, I won a state championship,” he said. “It was pretty cool.”
Last year, he reached the 1,000 points mark.
Soon, he heads to the Temple Owls, which recently signed him.
With a season ending in early March, coach Jim Crawford had nothing but good words for Green.
“Without a doubt, he’s the best player on our team,” Crawford said. “He leads us in points, he leads us in rebounds, he leads us in assists.”
“He’s become our best defensive player,” he added, and one of the best players Crawford has seen in his 35 years of coaching at Camden Catholic.
It’s an honor for Green to be nominated for the McDonald’s game, he said.
Crawford recently reached a personal coaching record of 700 wins, but said he was “more elated” to have attained them all at only one school.
The players practice hard, he said, visiting the gym every day, which leads to a rewarding experience for everyone involved in the game.
“It’s a high level program,” he said, with much competition and a fair share of wins on the scoreboards. “Kyle and his brother Matt, who plays in our program, fit that description.”
Green is one of 814 high school seniors who received nominations, along with fellow Camden County student Dominique Reid of Timber Creek High School in nearby Erial, according to a release.
“Camden County has a long history of elite basketball talent and the nomination of two local players signifies the hard work and dedication of our young student-athletes. They contribute to their schools, the community and the game,” said John Durante, president, Phil-Ad-Mac Owner/Operator Association in the release. “The McDonald’s All American Game presents the opportunity to preview the country’s up and coming basketball talent, and we’re excited to have our region represented by these outstanding players.”
A flow of information regarding the upcoming games, which are set to tip off on Wednesday, April 3, at 9:30 p.m., can be found by following the Twitter handle @McDAAG.
According to the release, net proceeds from the games will support the Ronald McDonald House Charities, as they have since 1978.
Check out the full list of nominees by visiting www.mcdaag.com and watch the selection show on ESPNU beginning at 5 p.m. on Feb. 14.
Twenty-four boys and 24 girls will be selected at that time for the roster, according to the release.
“You like when you see kids that work real hard get rewarded,” Crawford said.
