Gillispie Signs JUCO Standout as First Recruit
Apr 21, 2004 | Men's Basketball
April 21, 2004
Edjuan Green of Temple College has signed a national letter-of-intent to play college basketball at Texas A&M, first-year Aggie coach Billy Gillispie said Wednesday.
A 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward, Green averaged 19.7 points as a sophomore and ranked second nationally with 14.7 rebounds per game. He posted 24 double-doubles and earned first-team all-conference and all-region honors. Green had 17 games with at least 15 rebounds, including five with 20 or more.
"We are excited about having Edjuan join our program," Gillispie said. "He's a real points-and-rebounds producing guy and has a chance to come in and make us better immediately. Being from the Houston area, where we want to recruit, as well as a Texas junior college is an added plus. Edjuan is an outstanding player and is a good person from a good family. I'm thrilled about the character he brings to the team as well as what he can do on the court."
Green set Temple College records for season (427) and career (732) rebounds and recorded 40 career double-doubles in leading the team to a 45-17 record in his two seasons. Green redshirted in 2002-03 and as a freshman in 2001-02 averaged 13.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, earning first-team all-conference honors.
"Edjuan is a relentless rebounder and will be a very good Division I player," Temple coach Kirby Johnson said. "He's really a hard worker and never gives up on any play. He just outworks people."
Green was a standout prep player at Spring (Texas) High School near Houston, where he averaged 15.0 points and 13.1 rebounds per game as a senior and finished his career as the top rebounder in school history. He earned first-team all-district and all-region honors and ranked second in rebounding in the Greater Houston area behind Bellaire High School's Emeka Okafor (Connecticut) and just ahead of Lamar High School's Lawrence Roberts (Mississippi State). He posted a double-double in a head-to-head matchup against Oakfor.
"Edjuan comes from a great family," Spring coach Chris Bailes said. "He competes everyday in practice and does not accept defeat. Those kind of guys are rare. He's got a great heart and cares about other people, his teammates and his school."
"I really like Edjuan," said Jerry Mullens of Mullens Roundball Review, a recruiting service for junior-college players that rates Green as a High Major Player. "He's relentless on the glass and has a great body. He's very strong and can score inside and out. He's a good get for A&M. He's strong enough to play inside and has enough skills to play outside. I think he'll be a good player in the Big 12."
Green also was recruited by Georgia, Oregon, Houston and East Tennessee State, among others.
