The long recruiting process is over for Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball player Jervay Green after the Cougar sophomore verbally committed over the weekend to stay in-state by selecting to become a part of Tim Miles' basketball program at the University of Nebraska over the weekend.

                Green said it was an easy choice in picking Nebraska. Green was also thinking about Iowa State, Arizona State, and Pacific. Green said this is a decision that he is happy with to get out of the way as be heads to the Big 10 conference after his sophomore year at WNCC.

                "It is a dream come true," Green said. "I have been in love of the game all my life, basically. This is big for me and my family back home. The feeling is unbelievable and I didn't think it was going to be this big at all. When it happened, it is a blessing."

                Green was a player that was getting plenty of looks from coaches from around the United States. Gonzaga's Mark Few, Arizona State's Bobby Hurley, and other coaches from big-time programs made visits to Cougar Palace in hopes of landing the Cougar's 6-foot-3 guard.

                Nebraska's Miles wanted Green since the summer when he saw him at a Mullen's Top 100 Junior College Camp in St. Louis and kept in contact with Green and his mom since the summer.

                Green made his official visit to Lincoln this past weekend, toured the campus, met some of the players, and watched the Nebraska and Michigan State volleyball game. Green said he knew Lincoln was the place for him when he stepped off the plane.

                "I got to Lincoln on Friday and as soon as I got off the plane it was love everywhere," Green said. "Coach picked me up and we went to get some food and it was crazy. The support he gets is real big. They told me where they used to play ball, it is now the volleyball gym, That game was crazy and ridiculous. I didn't get there for the football game,"

                Green said Miles was ecstatic when he verbally committed to become a Husker.

                "He jumped on the table. It was crazy and it was wild," he said. "Everyone was excited. I was excited. He was on the other side of the table and jumped on the table and gave me a big hug."

                Green becomes the third Cougar to become a Husker. The first was Bernard Garner, who played for the Cougars from 1993-95 and earned the NJCAA Player of the Year in 1995. Garner went on to help the Huskers capture a NIT title in 1996.

                Mike Peltz was the second Cougar to play for Huskers. Peltz, of Alliance, played for WNCC from 2010-12, played for Nebraska from 2012-2014. One of the biggest things Peltz did while at Nebraska was propose to his girlfriend Shelby Campbell during the pregame senior night.

                Green said it feels good to be the third Cougar to play for in-state Nebraska.

                "I think that is big [following in their footsteps]," he said. "Like I said, it was all about fan support. I know at WNCC the fan support is big, so at Lincoln it will be bigger. I just wanted to be a part of that."

                Last year at WNCC, Green was part of history as the Cougar men recaptured the Region IX title after 17 years of absence. The Cougars finished the year at 27-8, capturing a regional title and going 1-1 at the national tournament.

                Green averaged 14.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals a game. Green buried 49 treys his freshman season and was 74 of 110 from the free throw line.

Green finished the year scoring in double figures in the 11 games and 23 of the teams last 24 games. Green had a season high 35 points against Central Wyoming College at the regional tournament.

Green graduated from Denver's George Washington High School where he averaged nearly 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals for a team that went 25-3.

                What Green brings to the team is a tenacity for defense and how he makes other players better.

                "They liked how I rebounded the ball, my size as a point guard, and how I pushed the ball and got my teammates involved," he said.

                WNCC men's basketball coach Cory Fehringer said Green will fit in nicely into the Nebraska program.

                "We were well aware that Jervay was going to be a big time recruit the first time I went and watched him. We always knew he was a special player and special kid, and what is undervalued is how special of a person and human being he is," Fehringer said. "It is no surprise to us that the individuals that came to our gym, came to visit a young man that has a lot of talent besides just basketball. As far as him [Green] coming to Western Nebraska, we knew from the beginning he was the best player from Colorado and if we got him we probably would win a regional title. He produced and helped provide us an opportunity to be at the national tournament.

"For him to make a decision to stay in-state and for him to make a choice for his future at the University of Nebraska, it says a lot. I think it speaks volume of what we are doing at Western Nebraska and for him to stay in the state of Nebraska, is huge for our community and our fan base. We are really proud of him and we can't wait to see him more often because he is staying in the state of Nebraska."