Morgan Greene is out to prove herself on the court

Since her first days at the local YMCA to playing in college, Cal State East Bay women’s basketball player Morgan Greene has always had to start over and prove herself on the court.

Greene, who grew up in Maryland, at the age of five found what would become one of the defining features of her life.

“Basketball had always caught my interest for as long as I can remember,” Greene said. “I love the game, the way it’s played, how it’s a team sport, everything about it.”

Just before Greene was about to begin high school, her and her family picked up and moved to Phoenix, Arizona where her mother was to start law school. Greene began attending Mountain Pointe High School where she suddenly found herself having to start over in a whole new place, with all new people and a whole new basketball team.

“It was difficult because I came in late right around when basketball season started,” said Greene. “I didn’t know the coach, the players or really anyone too well. I had to work hard and start from scratch.” It would pay off as she soon found her footing and in her freshman year guided her team to an undefeated season.

In her sophomore year, Greene was bumped up to the varsity team but found herself playing behind some of the more senior players on the team and having to prove herself.

“I had to start over again,” said Greene. “It taught me how to be a good teammate. I started working even harder on my skills and how I could really contribute to the team. Then I was able to play very confident after that.”

Again her hard work would pay off. Greene was named an All-Conference player as well as winning her team’s MVP award that season.

Coming out of high school, Greene was not highly recruited but Cal State East Bay coaches saw her in a tournament and began recruiting her. Once she started looking into the school she found it to be a big change from what she was used to, but appealing.

“I had never been to this area before,” said Greene. “It’s way different then what I’m used to so I’ve gotten to experience a lot of different things. I chose to come out here for something new and immediately loved the basketball program.”

Greene would redshirt her first year at Cal State East Bay and soon found herself having to begin again on a new team.

“It was tough,” said Greene. “It brought me right back to when I started on varsity in high school. I had to learn a lot very fast. I didn’t play in a game for a whole year so I had to learn a lot very fast.”

In her first year on the team, Greene averaged 10.2 rebounds, which was the most in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and helped her team repeat as CCAA champions.

Now in her second season, Greene has become a leader on and off the court for her team. She leads her team in scoring, rebounds and blocks.

“This year, for my team to be successful, I feel I have to be consistent every game,” said Greene who has only failed to score at least ten points once this season. “I talked to my coach before this season and I told her that I need to be more consistent on defense, offense, everything. My main goal every game to be consistent in how I play because I don’t want to let my team down.”

The Pioneers are only 5-5 overall and 2-3 in the CCAA, but Greene still has lofty goals for herself and her team.

“To be a freshman and have a major role on a team that wins a championship was big for me,” said Greene. “It’s time to move on and go after the next thing and always try to improve. By the time I leave East Bay I want to win a national championship.”

Greene, who is a kinesiology major, has two more years of eligibility to play basketball at Cal State East Bay left.

After playing basketball since the age of five, Greene could not imagine a day where she is not involved in the game in some way or another.

“It’s been my whole life for so long,” Greene said. “Whether I have good days with it, bad days with its like a constant push and pull and I just can’t imagine having a life without basketball.”