04-04-2025
American Heritage's Jasleen Green is the Broward 4A-1A Girls' Basketball Player of the Year
Jasleen Green was already a talented player when it came to her skills at both ends of the floor.
But Green, a 5-9 junior combo guard on American Heritage's girls' basketball team, has evolved into a leader for one of the best programs in the country.
That combination led to a stellar season for Green and another state championship game appearance for American Heritage, which extended its state record run to nine consecutive seasons making the final round.
Green's efforts earned her this year's Miami Herald Broward County Girls' Basketball Player of the Year honors for Classes 4A-1A.
Green averaged 18.9 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game and has attracted the attention of several Division-I programs heading into her senior season, including UCF, Clemson, FIU and FAU.
'I just feel like I got better as a player and became more of a leader,' Green said. 'My goal is to get better every year and I just polished everything I wanted to do.'
Green gradually stepped into that leadership role over the past two seasons after the graduation of former Heritage star and high school All-American Ta'Niya Latson.
It's something Green takes pride in.
And it's why the emotional distress that followed the physical pain that forced Green to watch from the bench during the most important stretch of the season hurt so much.
A severe cramp in her right leg sent Green to the bench for an extended stretch in the closing minutes of a 67-57 state championship game loss to Melbourne Palm Bay and ended up stopping the Patriots from claiming a seventh state title in eight seasons.
'It was a bad cramp and I couldn't walk on it. I had to get out,' Green said while holding back tears after the state loss.
It's not the first time Green and American Heritage have dealt with the pain of a loss in the state finals. As a freshman, Green and the Patriots lost by one point in the final to Daytona Beach Mainland. They returned stronger during her sophomore season and claimed their school's sixth state title.
Will Green and Heritage do something similar next season?
'Even though we didn't finish how we wanted, I'm proud of all my teammates,' Green said. 'That loss is gonna drive us all to work harder for next year.'
