CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) celebrated a historic moment as the Panthers officially retired AJ Green’s jersey on a memorable day in Cedar Falls. Green, who played for UNI from 2018 to 2022, received this rare honor for his outstanding collegiate career, marking the first time a basketball player’s jersey has been retired at the school. The event recognized Green’s lasting impact on the program and his achievements, including being a two-time Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Larry Bird Player of the Year and ranking fourth on UNI’s all-time scoring list.
Green’s Legacy and Reflections on His UNI Career
Currently competing with the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA, AJ Green expressed deep respect for those who came before him at UNI. He acknowledged the honor of being the first basketball player to have his jersey retired by the Panthers and credited the program’s predecessors for paving the way for his success.
“To be the first is an honor because there’s a lot of people that deserve to be up there and should be up there, and I hope will be up there. They’ve paved the way for me to come through this program to have success and do what I did,“ said Green.
Panthers’ Performance on AJ Green’s Special Day
Following the jersey retirement ceremony, UNI’s men’s basketball team secured an 86-62 victory over Drake. Leading the team were Will Hornseth and Max Weisbrod, each contributing 18 points. The players acknowledged the motivation to perform well in front of a supportive crowd gathered to celebrate Green’s milestone.
We knew that AJ was coming in. We knew that we were going to have a good crowd and a lot of excitement in the air. We knew we had to bring it to fuel that excitement and play off of it too and do our best,
said Hornseth.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Game Against Indiana State
With momentum from their home win and the excitement surrounding AJ Green’s jersey retirement, the Panthers are preparing to face Indiana State on Wednesday. This upcoming game represents a continuation of UNI’s efforts to build on their strong season and honor the legacy of players like Green.
