UT Rio Grande Valley sophomore guard Antonio Green is one of 10 nominees for the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Most Courageous Award, which will be presented at the USBWA annual meeting at the Final Four.
Green's nomination is primarily the result of an article written by The Monitor's Greg Luca titled "Adversity and responsibility find new meaning for UTRGV's Green" that ran on March 10, 2016.
Taking on a starting role just two games into his college career barely registers as a challenge or responsibility for UTRGV's Antonio Green. In Green's world, hardship is being raised by his mother, Tiffany McClain, in a single-parent home, maturity is trying to provide for his 2-year-old daughter, and adversity is dealing with the death of his 20-year-old brother last month.
Those factors are what drive and motivate Green, making his WAC Freshman of the Year season seem almost mundane in comparison.
"I use my daughter, my mom, and now him," Green said. "They keep me going. That's why I'm down here."
The complete article can be found
here.
While overcoming a wide range of adversities, the recipients of the Most Courageous Award, which was established in 1978, have embodied similar traits over the years, including strength, dignity, grace and an unshakeable resolve to press on. Many have become advocates on behalf of others going through equally difficult circumstances. The award has been presented to players, coaches, administrators and entire teams.
Green has pressed on in a big way, as he leads the NCAA in three-pointers made (75) and three-pointers per game (4.41). He is on pace to make at least 141 three-pointers this season, which would break the program (114) and WAC (123) records and rank 11th in NCAA history. The 4.41 three-pointers per game would rank 19th in NCAA history.
The other finalists are:
Chris Burns, Bryant
Burns, an assistant coach at his alma mater, is the only openly gay men's basketball coach at the NCAA's Division I level. Burns revealed his sexual orientation to the Bryant coaches and players a little over a year ago and has spoken out publicly.
Kyler Erickson, Omaha
Erickson, a senior, was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after he missed a year while dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. As a high school senior, Erickson witnessed a shooting at his school in which a student shot and killed a vice principal. Erickson was next door in the nurse's office.
Erkam Kiris, UT Arlington
Kiris, a freshman, was in Turkey last summer when military rebels staged a coup to overthrow the Turkish government. He was practicing with the Turkish National team when he found Istanbul in upheaval. He spent an extra 25 days in Turkey, trying to leave the country. He went to police stations and embassies three to four times a week before managing to secure the proper documentation to travel out of the country.
Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin
The teammates have taken prominent stances on social issues. Koenig, who is half Native American and a member of the Ho Chunk Nation in Wisconsin, has supported of the pipeline standoff at Standing Rock in North Dakota, traveling there on a fall weekend. Hayes has been outspoken on the plight of black Americans, especially in light of recent police shootings. As part of his protest, he stands two steps behind his teammates during the national anthem.
Trey McCrory, Northwestern State
McCrory is a legally blind graduate assistant. He can see up to about 5 to 7 feet before his vision becomes blurry. He grew up a fan of Northwestern State's basketball teams. He was a team manager as an undergrad and continues to work with the coaching staff despite his physical limitations.
Emmanuel Omogbo, Colorado State
Omogbo, a senior, lost his parents, his niece and nephew in a house fire in Maryland last February. He played in a game two days after their deaths before taking a break for the funeral and then returning to Fort Collins.
Ray Smith, Arizona
After missing his senior year of high school and his freshman season at Arizona because of two separate ACL tears, Smith got back on the court earlier this season. But he suffered yet another torn ACL. Smith, just 19, made the difficult decision to retire from the game.
Josh Speidel, Vermont
When he was a senior in high school, Speidel had already committed to Vermont. However, he was involved in a serious car accident and sustained a traumatic brain injury. Two years later, he has made a remarkable recovery, defying his doctors' initial prognosis. He is currently a freshman on the team.
Matt Willms, UTEP
The 7-foot center has undergone two major surgeries. The first was in 2014 to repair a slat tear in the labrum of his right shoulder. The second was in January 2016 to repair a fracture of the navicular bone in his right foot, which can be career-ending for big men.