Putnam County senior Jmari Greene is taking the next step in his basketball journey, officially signing a letter of intent to play at Andrew College.
Greene leaves the War Eagles with 1,471 points, ranking fourth on the program’s all-time scoring list, along with two Region 4-Class A Division I Player of the Year awards. His scoring prowess, leadership, and work ethic made him a cornerstone of the Putnam County program.
“I went on a visit early in February, and it just felt like home,” Greene said of why he chose Andrew College. “Everybody was nice. I learned about the campus and the classes, and the coaches were great.”
Greene’s path to Andrew College began with outreach from the coaching staff, who first contacted him over Twitter.
“They reached out to me and sent the offer on Christmas,” Greene said. “My mind was racing. I ran around the house and called my mom instantly. We were all just excited. It was one of the best moments of my life.”
During his visit, the coaches told Greene they admired his confidence and tenacity.
“They asked me for a word to describe my game. I said, ‘Dog,’” Greene recalled. “The coach said that right there stood out. He liked my response and said, ‘We need dogs here.’ That really made me feel like I belonged.”
Greene credited Putnam County head coach Patrick Marshall for helping build a program that instills both skill and character.
“Coach Marshall is giving kids a good reason to play basketball,” Greene said. “He pushes players to give it their all. He’s created a culture where you work hard and keep getting better. I’ve been fortunate to start here, to work with my dad, and to keep improving each year.”
Marshall is extremely proud of Greene, calling him a “son,” whom he’s enjoyed coaching for the past four years.
“Watching Jmari’s growth from his freshman year to now has been one of my proudest moments as a head coach,” Marshall said. “To see that kid defy the odds and earn a basketball scholarship is truly amazing.”
Reflecting on his career, Greene highlighted the experiences that shaped him, from playing alongside teammates like Tamaud Woodson, who also left the program after scoring over 1,000 points, to competing in deep playoff runs.
“It’s been a blessing,” he said. “Starting here, putting in the work, learning from great coaches; it’s all paid off.
You have to keep going hard and striving to get better each year.”
Looking ahead, Greene plans to major in sport management at Andrew College.
“I want to do something with basketball, maybe coaching or teaching the game,” he said. “I want to fall in love with it and help others along the way. That’s my goal, and my education is a big part of making it happen.”