By Greg Farrar
Dominic Green, Hazen High School senior, holds his signed letters of intent Nov. 12 and poses with his brother, Hazen freshman Jalen, for a photo taken by their dad, Jevon, on the Highlander campus.

With the swift stroke of a pen, Hazen High School senior Dominic Green made a permanent decision about the setting of his life’s next chapter Nov. 12.

The Hazen basketball star signed his national letter of intent to play at Arizona State University next year, officially making him a Sun Devil.

Green, a small forward, chose Arizona State over offers from schools such as Washington State University, Portland State and Montana.

“I picked ASU because I really liked the program,” he said before signing in front of family, friends and teammates. “I like where the school’s at in Tempe and I really like the coaching staff.”

Green added that he liked how the Sun Devils play and appreciated how head coach Herb Sendek and his staff develops student athletes on and off the court.

Sendek’s program is adding an athlete that loves to score, has a strong competitive fire and doesn’t like losing, Green said.

“They’re getting a player who’s a great shooter, very long and lanky, and is just willing to play,” he said.

Hazen basketball coach Ryan Thompson said Green has matured a lot since first stepping foot in the Highlanders’ gymnasium.

“I’ve seen him grow a lot as a person, as a student and certainly as an athlete, so it’s a special time for us to be celebrating what he’s accomplished,” Thompson said.

Green is the first Hazen boys basketball player to sign with a Division I school since 1992, when Jason Hamilton began his career at San Diego State before transferring to the University of Washington. Hamilton now serves as a radio analyst for the Huskies’ basketball team.

The Highlanders are poised for a big season, Green said. The team had a fruitful offseason, winning games in summer leagues and at camps. Green added that his goal is to win the Seamount League.

“I think our team is going to look very good this year,” he said.

The season began Dec. 3, with a nonconference game against rival Liberty. Results were not available at press time.

Signing the letter of intent is just the first step in the process, Thompson said, adding that there’s still work to be done for Green to reach all of his goals.

“When he gets to ASU next year, that’s just the start,” Thompson said. “We look forward to him doing a lot of big things there and beyond Arizona State.”