Overview

One of the premier point guards in the nation, Green posted 184 assists in his first season running the point in 2005-06, the second-highest total in UF history. He added 147 assists during the 2006-07 campaign and finished his career with 400 assists, ranking ninth in UF history with an average of 3.6 assists per game.

Green displays the same court savvy his father showed during his NBA playing days as a forward/center. Sidney Green was an All-American selection at Nevada-Las Vegas before being selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round (fifth pick overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft. In his 10-year NBA career, he played for the Bulls, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, and Charlotte Hornets. He retired in 1993 with 5,080 career points and 4,128 career rebounds. Since retiring from the NBA, Green has been a coach at Long Island University, Florida Atlantic University, and North Florida.

His son, Taurean, played for Cardinal Gibbons High School, where he was the runner-up Mr. Basketball honors in the state of Florida his senior season, averaging 30 points, nine assists and five rebounds. He was selected as the South Florida Sun-Sentinel 3A-1A Player of the Year and had two games of 50-plus points in his only season at the school. He helped the Florida Hoopsters reach the Championship game of the Adidas Big Time Tournament in 2002 and was later named to the All-Tournament squad.

As a junior, Green averaged 21 points and nine assists per game at Bradenton Pendleton Academy. He also lettered in basketball as a sophomore at Westminster Academy and spent his freshman semester at Lake Howell High School.

As a freshman at Florida in 2004-05, Green appeared in 32 games. He showed tremendous potential during his freshman season, becoming a regular in the Gators' rotation and one of the first off the bench in every game. He averaged 2.2 assists per game and showed an ability to get teammates involved in transition and half-court situations. A tenacious defender with quick hands, he was third on the team in steals.

Green garnered national attention during the 2006 NCAA Tournament. He started all 39 games for the Gators at point guard, earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors. He finished second on the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game, knocking down 88 3-pointers. He had eight games of 20-plus points, including a career-high 29 points in the Gators' victory over Kentucky. He led the Gators in assists 22 times, including three games with nine assists.

Green was clutch with the game on the line, as he hit 40 of 42 free-throw attempts in the final three minutes of action on the year (95.2 percent) and was named the MVP of the SEC Tournament after averaging 16 points per game and hitting 10 of 19 3-pointers (52.6 percent) over the three tourney games. He was also the MVP of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Final Four in New York after torching Wake Forest and Syracuse for 23 points in back-to-back games.

The win fulfilled his grandmother's dream of him playing at Madison Square Garden. Although she passed away in January of 2005, Green rose to the occasion in his first appearance at MSG and collected MVP honors in front of his father Sidney. He hit 88.6 percent from the free-throw line on the year (171 of 193) and ranks second in UF history in free-throw percentage at 85.7 percent, just behind former teammate Anthony Roberson (86.4 percent). He also set the UF record with 37 consecutive free throws made in 2005-06, going over one month without missing.

Green was again chosen All-SEC second-team in 2006-07. He started all 40 games, averaging 13.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He scored double digits in 30 of his 40 contests and led the team in scoring nine times. UF's backcourt trio of Green, Lee Humphrey and Walter Hodge hit on 232 of UF's 286 3-pointers on the season. Green dished out a SchoolNCAA Tournament record 12 assists against Jackson State and is the school's all-time leader in assists in NCAA Tournament play (49).

In 111 games at Florida, Green started 79 contests. He scored 1,174 points, an average of 10.6 per game. He connected on 186 of 479 3-point shots (38.8 percent), tying Craig Brown (1991-94) for the eighth-most 3-pointers in Schoolhistory. He hit on 354 of 413 free throws, as his 85.7 free-throw percentage ranks second in Schoolhistory. He totaled 400 assists, as his average of 3.6 per game rank ninth in Florida annals. He hauled down 242 rebounds, had 124 steals with seven blocked shots, adding 174 Personal fouls and 282 turnovers while averaging 29.2 minutes of action per game.

Scouting Report

Positives: Has a slight frame, but makes up for a lack of bulk with court vision, savvy and the stamina needed to go from end to end...Very comfortable in the team's up-tempo pace, showing deadly shooting accuracy from the perimeter...Shows tremendous poise on the court and excels at running the pick-and-roll...Unselfish leader who might lack great speed, but keeps the game moving at a steady pace...Knows how to utilize screens and is known for making quick decisions, whether in attempts to score or pass...Good playmaker in the half-court game and shows good fakes that causes the defender to hesitate rather than hedge on to him during pick and roll action...Does a nice job of pulling up and firing 3-pointers, showing enough speed turning the corner to get to the basket for an easy finish...Good floor general with the ability to get the team running on the fast break....When he gets by defenders and into the paint, he is hard to contain...Has improved his scoring ability around the basket and is an efficient ball handler with solid one-on-one skills...Gets to the free-throw line, where he shoots 85.7 percent.

Negatives: Lacks the bulk or size to consistently penetrate the lane...More quick than fast and while a good defender when the ball is in front of him, he can be beaten in the paint by more physical guards...Not much of a rebounder due to size issues...Has a good perimeter shot, but must be more conscious of ball security, as he averaged close to five turnovers per game during the 2007 NCAA Tournament...Doesn't fire the ball at will, but his shot selection is just adequate, making just 40.1 percent of his field-goal attempts...Needs to be more selective taking angles...Doesn't cave under pressure, but would prefer another teammate take the crucial shot.

Compares To...BREVIN KNIGHT, Charlotte. Of Florida's underclass group that declared for the draft, Green is the least-coveted prospect. He lacks size, strength and the shot selection expected of a point guard. But, whether he returned to Schoolor not, his game might have reached its peak. He might fight for a spot on the bench, as his 3-point range is an asset, but he might be better off honing his skills over in Europe. Some feel he's a late first-round talent, but I feel that his lack of size and strength, along with his adequate speed will see him last well into the second round.

High School

Green attended four different schools during his High School career...Played for Cardinal Gibbons (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) High School, where he was the runner-up Mr. Basketball in the state of Florida as a senior, averaging 30 points, nine assists and five rebounds...Selected as the South Florida Sun-Sentinel 3A-1A Player of the Year and had two games of 50-plus points in his only season at that school...Helped the Florida Hoopsters reach the Championship game of the Adidas Big Time Tournament in 2002 and was later named to the All-Tournament squad...As a junior, Green averaged 21 points and nine assists at Bradenton (Fla.) Pendleton Academy...Also lettered in basketball as a sophomore at Westminster (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) Academy and spent his freshman season at Lake Howell (Orlando, Fla.) High School.

Personal

Social & Behavioral Sciences major...Father, Sidney Green, was an All-American selection at Nevada-Las Vegas before being selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round (fifth pick overall) of the 1983 NBA Draft. In his 10-year NBA career, he played for the Bulls, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, and Charlotte Hornets. He retired in 1993 with 5,080 career points and 4,128 career rebounds. Since retiring from the NBA, Green has been a coach at Long Island University, Florida Atlantic University, and, now at North Florida. Green and Florida head coach Billy Donovan played together in Knick uniforms briefly in the late 1980s...As an infant, Taurean would flick his right wrist in a shooting motion from his crib, leading Sidney to buy his son a miniature basketball hoop...Born 11/28/85...Resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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