Why Pike’s Zane Greene is the epitome of the Student-Athlete that boyz need to recognize! “Hustlin'”

Pike safety Zane Greene is a leader of young men! Photo: TheJayGravesReport

All too often we hear the stories of our young black men bein’ lost to the streets that eventually leads to prison or even death at an early age. The statistics are mind blowin’ because we live in a society where mass incarceration of African Americans and especially black men is normal and unfortunately acceptable. Accordin’ to an NAACP Criminal Fact Sheet African Americans are incarcerated at more than 5 times the rate of whites. Sadly nationwide, African American children represent 32% of children who are arrested, 42% of children who are detained, and 52% of children whose cases are judicially waived to criminal court. If African Americans and Hispanics were incarcerated at the same rates as whites, prison and jail populations would decline by almost 40%.

Unfortunately, that’s the reality that we’re facin’ out here in these streets with our black kids. That’s why it’s always refreshin’ to run into a student-athlete that has blown the statistics out of the water that has become a leader of young men everywhere. Pike safety Zane Greene is one of those kids. Not only is he ballin’ out of control on defense for the dangerous Red Devils who finished the regular season with a record of 5-4 and are now goin’ into Sectional 5 as the favorite, but he’s ballin’ in the classroom too.

Zane is leadin’ the M.I.C., which is the best conference in the state and one of the Top 15 in the country, in interceptions this season with four. He returns punts for them as well. His outstandin’ play as a leader on their defense has allowed them to improve drastically. Durin’ the 2016 season the Red Devils didn’t win a darn game goin’ 0-10 and they gave up 55 points per game. This season the defense is much improved only givin’ up 28 points per game and he’s one of the reasons for that turn around.

Greene No.9 zeroin’ in on the tackle. Photo: TheJaygravesReport

Think about it bruh, Pike has a chance to literally go from 0-10 last year to Sectional Champs this year. That’s NUTS and one of the catalysts of that defense helpin’ to make that happen is a kid with an outstandin’ 4.09 GPA in the classroom. He’s ranked in the Top 6 percent of his class at No.39 out of 673 kids.

Let’s keep it real or all the way 100, whichever comes 1st! Wheredeydodatat? You either get one or the other. You either get a really good football player or you get a really smart kid, but you rarely get both wrapped in one package. Zane Greene is the epitome of the student-athlete and boyz need to recognize that. He’s somethin’ special.

Greene is a member of the National Honor Society, he’s on the leadership council of Youth Career Connect and he’s participated in and graduated from the Center for Leadership Development here in Indianapolis. He’s also goin’ to be participatin’ in the 100 Black Men Beautillion Ball this spring. Talk about a busy dude!

When I asked him how he’s able to balance school and football he said that he “eliminates distractions like playin’ video games and things like that” when he gets home from practice. It’s all about gettin’ his school work done. He wants to become a Civil Engineer and understands that it requires his time and effort right now to fulfill his dreams.

No.9 holdin’ it down on Pike’s defense. Photo: TheJayGravesReport

It’s amazin’ to see a kid handle his business not only on the field but off of it as well and be GREAT at both. This past summer Zane had a summer internship with Allison Transmission where he worked a full time job from 7am until 3:30pm Monday through Friday. Football practice was at 5pm Monday through Friday and the dun never missed a workout bruh.

That’s called a level of maturity that some so-called “grown men” never reach. His hard work is payin’ huge dividends at this point and I know that his parents have to be extremely proud of him. He’s been offered academic scholarships from schools like Butler, Hampton and Norfolk State so far and I’m quite sure there are more to come.

Keep your eyes on No.9 at Pike because he’s about to do great things! His parents have done a matersful job in raisin’ one of our finest examples of manhood. Zane Greene is a leader of young men today but he’s fast approachin’ becomin’ a leader of all men tomorrow. Salute young brother and continue to be an example for all of these young cats comin’ behind you. Never allow the statistics to dictate who and what you will become. Zane hasn’t! Stop me when I start lyin’!

Playas Thesaurus: 

1) Dun: noun – the person in question, dude, guy, etc. It’s whoever I’m talkin’ about and its non-gender specific.

2) Wheredeydodatat?: Hood for “Who does that?”

The G is excluded from the endings of all words because the G is near and dear to my heart because I’m from “The G” which is Gary, Indiana. So I only use the G when I’m talkin’ about “The G!”

The caption under the photo is real talk today!