Remarkable Women: Centenary’s Alisha Green can balance it all

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — This March, KTAL Sports wants to celebrate the remarkable female athletes across the Ark-La-Tex. One of the many impressive women is Centenary’s Alisha Green who manages to balance a full plate of responsibilities with a smile on her face.

“Alisha Green has come in as a freshman,” started Centenary women’s basketball head coach Paul Reed. “She works hard every day and is the role model of what it means to be a student-athlete here at Centenary.”

Alisha Green isn’t just an academic weapon in the classroom, she’s a vital part of the Ladies’ basketball program.

However, the college freshman didn’t start playing on the hardwood until the seventh grade.

“I went to a boys’ basketball game with my dad,” recalled Green. “I was like, ‘This looks fun.’ So, I started teaching myself basketball basics and I fell in love with it from there.”

The Lafayette native didn’t get to play until her junior and senior year of high school, so she was worried she wouldn’t get the chance to pursue basketball on the next level, that was until Centenary head coach Paul Reed saw her in action.

“I went to watch one of my buddy’s daughters play,” remembered Coach Reed. “That’s when I saw (Alisha) play. It drew a lot of my interest. I said, ‘Okay, this young lady has a lot of potential. Let me get her name and her contact information.’ She came highly recommended.”

“When I got the call from Coach Reed it was like hope for me,” explained Green.

There’s far more to Alisha Green than her capabilities in the classroom and on the basketball court, she’s also in Centenary’s choir.

“I’ve been singing probably ever since I could talk,” Green said. “I used to have stage fright and then over time it got better. I started opening up more and singing in front of people.”

Green shares her love for singing and basketball with her dad, who’s been right by her side all along.

“He’s like my best friend,” shared Green. “He understands me so well. We’re the same person. It’s really great to be able to talk to him and express myself because he understands where I am coming from.”

As if Alisha doesn’t have enough on her plate, she is also in the Army. Her ability to handle so many things is impressive and a testament to herself self-discipline.

“Joining the Army definitely helped with my time management,” admitted Green. “(It also helped me) become disciplined to be able to do all of the things that I do now with basketball, school, and drill.”

“Not everybody can do that,” said Coach Reed. “I’ve been a coach for 30 something years, it’s hard to get somebody that disciplined.”