Women’s basketball guard Zaay Green announced she intends to return to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff next season.
Green told reporters she plans to play one more year for the Lady Lions after they were eliminated from the SWAC tournament by Jackson State on Friday in Birmingham, Ala. Green was listed on the roster as a graduate student and is widely considered a WNBA prospect but had one more year of NCAA eligibility.
The Duncanville, Texas, native began her collegiate career at Tennessee. She played for the Lady Vols in the 2018-19 season but played just two games the next season due to an injury. She then transferred to Texas A&M for the 2020-21 season, but the NCAA did not count that season against athletes’ eligibility due to the covid-19 pandemic, meaning she still had three years left when she transferred to UAPB.
She started 26 games for UAPB in the 2021-22 season, then missed last year due to another injury before playing this year, leaving her with one more season of eligibility to use next year.
After her announcement, she was later named to the SWAC all-tournament team for her performances in UAPB’s games against Alabama A&M and Jackson State. She led the Lady Lions with 32 points, her best as a Lady Lion, in UAPB’s 82-74 quarterfinal win against AAMU. She also tallied eight assists and six rebounds.
She went on to score 15 points with nine rebounds and five assists in the 70-48 semifinal loss to Jackson State.
Joining Green on the all-tournament team are AAMU guard Amiah Simmons, Alcorn State forward Destiny Brown, and Jackson State guard Ti’lan Boler. JSU guard Andriana Avent was named tournament MVP.
Green was named first team all-SWAC before the tournament.