Sports

<< Previous   of   Next >> Jennifer Buchanan / The  (click to enlarge) Explosion guard Devon Greene runs back up the court during a recent game. Greene scored a franchise record 62 points in the Explosion’s regular-season finale.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Devon Greene exploded on the scene Explosion rookie guard Devon Greene torched the IBL for a record 754 points this season, but says the best is yet to come By Aaron Lommers Herald Writer MONROE -- During a recent game against Central Oregon, Devon Greene jokingly walked over and interrupted a conversation between the Central Oregon head coach and one of his players. "They didn't like that too much," Greene joked later. Maybe he was trying to give them some advice on how to stop him. The Explosion guard took the IBL by storm this season, setting a league record with 754 total points and averaging 39.7 points per game. He capped off his season by scoring a franchise record 62 points in the Explosion's regular-season finale on Sunday. That goes along with seven games of 40 points or more and another 50-point game. "I have always been able to score like that when I have an opportunity to play," Greene said. Greene is the cornerstone of an Explosion team that went 9-11 this season and are the eighth seed in the International Basketball League playoffs, which begin tonight. Despite the eighth seed players and coaches alike believe the team is poised for a big playoff run. "We feel like we are ready to take on the world, or at least the rest of the IBL," Greene said. If the Explosion are to go far in this year's playoffs, they'll no doubt need a big contribution from Greene. The 6-foot-7 guard has the ability to shoot from the outside and slash past an opponent and penetrate the paint. His father, Kenny Greene, has been trying to get him to do more of the former. "When you can shoot, sometimes you fall in love with shooting the ball," Greene said. "That's something that everybody has been working with me on. I guess it's a compliment because they think you can do it. They wouldn't be telling you to do it if they didn't think you could." Greene, who has been playing basketball since he was 3, played his high school basketball at Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, Ariz. After high school he ended up at Boston College, where he said he wasn't part of the regular rotation on the Division I team. But he said he did have a memorable game in which he scored 10 points in 12 minutes to help send the game into overtime, where the Golden Eagles ended up winning. After his freshman season, Greene ended up transferring to Fordham University and then to Grand Canyon University before ultimately leaving college early to pursue a pro career. His first pro team was in the ABA with the Arizona Rhinos, where he met current Explosion head coach Chris Weakley. After Weakley took over as head coach of the Explosion this season, Greene joined him in camp. Greene said there are a few differences dealing with Weakley the player and Weakley the coach. "The difference is in Arizona was he was a player so if he was yelling at you, you could just tell him to shut up," Greene said. "Now he's the coach so you really can't tell him to shut up. He's a good guy he just wants to win, I have nothing but respect for him." Ultimately Greene hopes his play this year will give him a chance be noticed by NBA scouts. "I just want to be the best player that I can be. You just got to work hard everyday and that should get you to the next level," Greene said. Greene has never worked out for an NBA team before, but said he has heard of interest from a few NBA teams, including the Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors. "Everybody needs someone that can score the basketball," Greene said with a smile. "One thing I would want them to know about me is I am not a finished product, I am getting better everyday." Greene says there is an offer on the table to play in Mexico if nothing works out with the NBA teams. When asked if Greene has a timetable for making it to the NBA, he responded quickly, "Yeah, I wanted to be in the NBA three years ago. "There is nothing I can do but what I have been doing, which is just play hard."

1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson 2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court 3. Vatican ponders the souls in space 4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish 5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region 6. Student hit in crosswalk to return 7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork 8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide 9. Help for young moms may continue 10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’ 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • Honoring student veterans • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Prep football games of the week (state playoffs) • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million