Greenberg's 1,000 Points Quite a Story

by Amelia Cahillane

Looming at a sturdy six and a half feet tall, Jon Greenberg's physique has proven indispensable for the sport that has become such an integral component of his life.

Now in his senior season of college basketball, Greenberg has just claimed his 1,000th career point, been named MASCAC player of the week, and previously made the All Conference First and Second teams—exploits that are usually achieved simultaneously with a lifelong background of practicing and perfecting any given sport. However, for Greenberg, this wasn't the case.

Born and raised on a small farm in Mortsel, Belgium, Greenberg came to America when he was 11 years old.

"My dad is from the Boston area, and did missionary work in India, where he worked with Mother Theresa, and eventually moved to Europe," says Greenberg, who grew up in a home with seven brothers and one sister. Outside the house, the family usually spoke Flemish, a mix of Dutch and French, but inside they would speak English.

When his dad finally felt it was time to head back to his country of origin, the family packed up and headed to the Massachusetts Cape town of Yarmouth.

"The first thing I did was go to the Mall of America," says Greenberg, recalling how exciting the experience was. Because he grew up in a town with not much more than a church, a bakery, and a bar, he had never seen anything quite like it. It wasn't until Greenberg arrived in America that he began developing an interest in basketball.

"I didn't play basketball when I was overseas, only soccer. I [had] never even really heard about it until I got here," elucidates Greenberg, who wasn't introduced to the sport until late into his high school years.

"I was 6' 6″ tall my junior year, so my friends brought me to the park to play. I wasn't great at first, but since I'm really competitive I think that made me want to get better, so I started playing every day," says Greenberg about how he got his start.

"I didn't play until my senior year of high school. I was very rusty then, so the season was pretty rough and I didn't play all that much, but I really wanted to stick with it. I took two years off after high school to work and played the whole time," he says.

In the two years before coming to MCLA, Greenberg worked hard at various jobs, such as landscaping and roofing, in order to help support his family, all while continuing to condition his basketball skills.

"Around that time it was difficult deciding what to do. On one hand, I wanted to make sure my family was good before I came out to school. I knew I was going to go eventually and I ended up coming to MCLA a week before classes started," says Greenberg, who also applied to a few other schools that were closer to home, before settling on MCLA. "They had a good business program and I had met with the teachers and liked them. I also liked [the] small school atmosphere."

All of Greenberg's hard work and self motivation paid off in preparing him for an almost full-time college basketball schedule and classes, which he admits to have been an interesting endeavor during his freshman year.

"We were pretty good my freshman year. I was on a team with a lot of players that could really help me," explains Greenberg about the group of upperclassmen he initially played with, each providing him with guidance that would be of great importance in the development of his athletic performance.

Despite an overall record of 1- 24, Greenberg recalls his sophomore year to be a vital time in his basketball career.

"Looking back, it definitely gave me the seasoning I needed. I got a lot of playing time and was able to get used to college athletics. It was needed, but frustrating at the same time," explains Greenberg. That same year, he was named captain at the beginning of the season, which was also a big change for the sophomore.

"I went from being a role player and having people in front of me to lean on, to being the person to shoulder more of the load," says Greenberg, who ended up being named second team all conference that season.

"It's crazy looking back to when I didn't think that I was even going to play basketball in college at all to where I am now, it [basketball] has been a great thing for me," he says. "When you play a sport, you have a built in family. I've seen new people come in and older people leave. It's been cool going from living on the cape and working, to being a part of a team; my coach has a lot to do with that. He's been a big help for me over the years, along with my teammates who have all been great."

Coach Morrison added "Jon's first year was my first year, we both kind of just showed up at the same time. He wasn't really recruited, but a coach he knew on Cape Cod had suggested MCLA and he was on an admissions list that had basketball as an interest. He also had visited the campus that summer before I arrived. He told me he was 6'6 and I told him to come see as soon as he got on campus. He had awful foot work, couldn't catch the ball, Benny must have hit in the face 50 times that year, passing the ball. He couldn't dunk, wasn't even close, he really hadn't played the game much. However, he worked from day one and never stopped, there isn't a guy at any level that will outwork Jon. He's a self-made player, who is still getting better and now he has a chance to keep playing somewhere after college if he wants to. It's really been an unbelievable journey for him and me, to see the progress he has made as a person and player"

Now in his final season of college basketball, Greenberg has high hopes for the remainder of the year.

"I have higher goals for this year—I want to try and win the MASCAC's, that would be awesome. I think we have a really good chance if we can figure out how to play together," explains Greenberg.

As of now, the senior has two post college plans. Majoring in business and concentrating in marketing, he hopes to eventually get a graduate degree in a slightly different area of study.

"As I went through college, I got more interested in finance and accounting. I also really like marketing, it's interesting and I like to work with people. I know I could never do a 9-5 desk job though," says Greenberg.

His second plan is to continue playing basketball after he graduates, this time overseas.

"If I get the chance to get paid for doing what I love to do it would be ideal—that's everyone's dream," he says. If his past dedication and motivation are any indication of Greenberg's future, whatever path he chooses to take after college will ultimately prove to be a success.

 (courtesy of The Beacon)