NOTE: This is the fifth in a series recognizing Joey Pender (JHHS), Steve Treadway (JHHS), Lowell Mize (JHHS), Cynthia Loyd (JHHS), and Shelby Green (QHS), who were selected to be inducted into the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame as the Class of 2026, along with Bill DeCou (Rundell Jr. High), who will receive the prestigious Meritorious Service Award. The induction banquet is scheduled for October 3rd in the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church in Jonesboro. This week: Shelby Green

From 1970 – 72, the Quitman High School (QHS) boys basketball team won three straight district titles, two Class B state championships, and had a quarterfinal playoff berth, posting season records of 40-8, 43-5, and 39-7 for an overall record of 122-20. To put that in perspective, the 43 and 40 wins rank #1 and #2 in all-time single-season wins at QHS, and the 39 wins tie for 3rd all-time with the 2006-07 Wolverine team. The three-year overall record of 122 – 20 is also the best in school history and second best in Jackson Parish history, behind only the 1950-52 Jonesboro-Hodge High School teams that compiled a 145-23 mark.

When thinking back to the “glory years” of QHS basketball, names like Graylon Davis, Lee Humble, who both went on to play collegiately, and legendary head basketball coach Stuart Toms immediately come to mind, but there was another who was instrumental to the school’s success that hasn’t received the recognition that he deserves.

Until now!

On Saturday, October 3rd, Shelby Green will be inducted into the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame, joining his two aforementioned teammates and coach in the local hallowed hall. For those unfamiliar with the contribution the son of Hazel and Webb Green made to the success of the team, Shelby, who played power forward for the Wolverines, was a two-time All-District First Team selection his junior and senior years.

“I was blessed to have two great role models in my parents, both of whom played basketball in high school,” recalled Green. My mom, who also played at Quitman, was probably my greatest inspiration, and I always thought it was really cool to play in the same gym that she did.”

While Davis and Humble seemed to always get the headlines and most acclaim from the sports pundits across the state, it was Green, who was the “glue-guy,” the one who did the “dirty work” down low that helped Quitman control the paint, game in and game out.

Standing at 6’5″, Green was a ferocious low post player; a great defender and rebounder even when facing great challenges like the time he was matched up against future NBA Hall of Famer Robert Parish.

“I will never forget the first time I saw Parrish,” recalled Green. “We were matched up against Woodlawn High School out of Shreveport in a tournament, and while we were taking the court for warm-ups, they walked in the gym. Parrish, who stood close to 7 feet tall, immediately stood out as he was a head taller than everyone else and actually had to duck to come in the door. When Coach Toms came over and told me that was who I would be guarding, I knew I had my hands full,” laughed Green.

While perhaps better known for his rebounding prowess, averaging a little better than 10 rebounds a game over his last two years, Green could “fill it up” as well. Behind his “sky hook,” which he patterned after Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the muscular forward averaged close to 16 points a game, which included a game against Saline where he poured in a career-high 29 points.

Green’s ability did not go unnoticed among college coaches, as he received several offers to play at the next level, but a fluke injury, where he landed awkwardly while doing “dunking drills” after practice one day late in his senior year, which ended up rupturing two discs in his back, ended his career prematurely.

Showing the same desire to succeed off the court, Green earned a college degree in Nursing from Louisiana Tech, which led him to work for 8 years in emergency services as a First Responder before a very successful 25-year career as a veterinarian pharmaceutical territory sales manager.

Today, Green lives in Choudrant, LA, and still keeps up with his alma mater, old classmates, and teammates, all of whom are certainly overjoyed that the “Glue Guy” is finally cementing his position as being recognized as one of the all-time best local athletes in the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame.

h

Q