KSR UK Player Interviews: Quade Green born to be "the loudest one out there"

@MrsTylerKSR

Even before he arrived at Kentucky, Quade Green assumed a leadership role. The point guard from Philly committed to Kentucky in November 2016 and immediately started recruiting others to join him. Some ventures were more successful than others (no hard feelings, Mohamed Bamba), but Green knew that in order for his recruiting class to be special, he had to take the lead.

“I like playing with good guys, so I had to try to get the good guys on my team,” he said simply.

Why do good guys like playing with Green? Another simple answer: he gets them the ball, a trait which earned him a reputation as one of the most popular guards in his class.

“I’m a pass-first point guard. Everybody wants the ball. I’m not a selfish guy, so that’s probably one of the reasons why they want to play with me. I’m not selfish.”

At six-feet, Green is small in stature, but he devoted the summer to improving his speed through what he calls “the worst conditioning I’ve ever done in my life.” He still says speed is his biggest weakness, but he’s working on it.

“I’m getting faster and stronger and getting my foot speed right and getting quicker,” Green said.

He credited part of that improvement to fellow guard Shai Alexander, with whom he will share the backcourt this fall but spent the summer playing against in the gym.

“Shai is unbelievable,” Green said. “I can’t wait to get on the court together with Shai. We’ve been playing over in the gym, playing against him, making me better, making him better. I can’t wait until the real games start.”

Alexander will be great, but, let it be clear: Green is this team’s general.

“I would say leading my team to win, really,” Green said when asked about his biggest strength. “Being a vocal leader and being a leader on and off the court. Being that person guys can come to anytime they want and being a pass-first point guard and scoring when I need to score.”

“I’ve been doing it all my life,” he added later. “It’s natural to me now. I don’t care if we’re playing in the park, I’m going to be the loudest one out there. Even somebody’s grandma’s gonna hear me talking out there.”

Brace yourself, lower arena.