Australian prospect Josh Green garnering plenty of interest
BRADENTON, Fl. – Australia has become known for its recent trend of elite basketball prospects and Josh Green is expected to carry the baton in the 2019 class. A 6-foot-5 guard that is one of the more well-rounded guard prospects in his class, Green has led a blue blood recruitment over the past 12 months, as Virginia became the latest to offer on Thursday.
Making the switch to IMG Academy for his junior season, Green discussed his transition to the Florida-based institution. “It has been great here. Everything with the facilities, as well as the coaching staff ... has been top-notch,” he said. “I am just trying to focus on the big things and not let the little things get to me; working on improving and focusing on the end-goal.”
Since the move, Green’s recruitment has only picked up for the better. “Most of the schools that have offered me have stayed in contact with me,” he said. “Virginia, who just offered me, has been staying in contact with me, Arizona, UCLA, USC, Kansas, Stanford and Washington have all been staying in close contact.”
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Virginia: “I moved here from Australia so moving to the East Coast wouldn’t be much of a problem for me. Coach (Tony) Bennett just said that he really enjoyed my game and compares me a little bit to Justin Anderson and Malcolm Brogdon, and I like how I would fit their system and get out and play defense.”
Arizona: “I visited there for their Red-Blue Game. The atmosphere, every single time that I go there, is amazing. It was good to see DeAndre (Ayton) again; I think he is going to have a big year this year. It was good to get out there and see them again.”
Kansas: “They contact me and my family a lot. Bill Self and their assistant actually came here yesterday. They have a great tradition and they have done a really good job throughout their history and they have done a great job of developing their players and getting them to the next level.”
UCLA: “It is a school that a lot of kids want to go to because of the location and just like Kansas, they have a great tradition, as well. They always seem to have successful years.”
WHAT'S NEXT?
No other visits are scheduled in the coming weeks, as Green remains set on taking the floor for the first time this winter with his new IMG Academy program.
He recently hosted Virginia head coach Tony Bennett and Kansas head coach Bill Self at his school’s open gym.
RIVALS REACTION
A high four-star prospect that is on the cusp of adding the final star next to his name, Green is everything that a high-major coach looks for in a prospect. Capable of creating for others, an elite-level athlete at the basket with a worker’s approach in attaining his maximum potential, the upside remains tremendous for the Aussie import.