Lawrence High hoopster Dorian Green had a breakout game against Free State last season. He'll hope for a repeat performance in Thursday's matchup with the Firebirds.

For most athletes, a short memory is a good thing to have.

Suffer an off night shooting the ball and forget about it a few hours later. Serve up the game-winning home run in the ninth inning and climb right back onto the hill the next day.

But Lawrence High junior Dorian Green is happy with his memory just the way it is. And why not? Nearly a year ago to the day, Green broke onto the high school basketball scene with one of his most memorable games on Lawrence’s biggest stage.

“I just remember walking into the gym and seeing all of those people,” Green said of the Free State High gymnasium last Dec. 21, the night the Lions traveled across town and knocked off the Firebirds, 43-42, in one of the most exciting intra-city matchups to date. “I knew a lot of people would be there, but I didn’t know it would be that many.”

Forced into action after an injury to starting guard Daniel Green (no relation), the sophomore led the Lions on a ferocious comeback. Everything Dorian Green did that night seemed to work out in his favor. Each drive to the basket created an easy scoring opportunity for a teammate. Each jumper fell softly from the sky and into the hoop. Every time he stepped up his suffocating defense, it seemed to create a turnover that led to an easy bucket on the other end.

His stat line barely told half of the story. He finished with five points, three assists and three steals. Those who were there saw that Green’s contribution exceeded his numbers.

“He brought a new spark to everything that was going on,” recalled LHS coach Chris Davis. “As soon as Dorian came in, it sort of changed the pace, and he gave us a little life. Once that happened, he fed on it, and his teammates fed on it.”

Davis said he had planned to play Green more in the Free State contest anyway. That the injury opened the door for instant playing time only showed that the stars had alligned in the sophomore’s favor.

It was a special night for Green, who called that game the springboard for a career that has taken him from role player whom the crowd begged Davis to play to standout scorer and team leader.

“That was kind of my coming-out party,” Green said. “After that game, I started coming off the bench, playing a little more and I got myself into the rotation.”

Green finished the season as a key part of the Lions’ senior-laden squad. Now, as a junior, he’s taken a leadership role on a team with a totally new look.

“Everything’s gone by so fast,” he said. “We’re so different than our team last year. It’s crazy. We’re nothing like we were last year. And things are a little different for me, too. It’s a different role. Last year, no one knew what to expect from me, so I could just go out there and play. But now everyone kind of knows who I am. I like the new challenge, but it’s definitely different.”

Not that it’s been a difficult adjustment.

In the Lions’ season-opening victory over Washburn Rural, Green threw down not one but two dunks on his way to a 13-point, six-steal, seven-rebound effort.

A few early turnovers and a missed lay-up inspired Green to rattle the rim, allowing him to achieve a goal he had set for the season.

“I don’t know if I expected it in that game,” Green said. “But I wanted to get a dunk this season. It just brings so much energy and intensity to your team.”

Even without the dunks, that’s exactly what Green provides the Lions.

“He stays calm but is so intense,” senior James Easter said. “Some point guards like to take over the game and be the show, but Dorian’s not like that. He’s a team player first, and he’s becoming a great leader.”

That last part is the part that impresses Davis the most – Green’s leadership. Davis has long known Green to be a big-time scorer, a smooth playmaker and one of the finest all-around players he’s coached. But watching him sprout into the kind of teammate who can guide the Lions to more special nights brings a smile to Davis’ face.

“Dorian’s extremely competitive, and he has such a knack for keeping his head on straight,” Davis said. “We’ve seen moments this year where he’s brought a little emotion. And we need that. This team needs him to get fired up from time to time, and that’s been great to see.”

Neither Green nor Davis spend much time thinking back on last year’s game at Free State. The past is the past, they say. A new season has arrived.

Thursday night at 7 p.m., when the Lions tip off their home opener, all eyes will be on Green, many of them wondering if he can match what he did 364 days ago at the FSHS gym.

The Lions’ leader is ready.

“It’s our first home game of the year, and it’s against our crosstown rivals,” Green said. “That just makes it a little sweeter. It’s going to seem like this week will take forever, but the game will be here quicker than we know. I can’t wait.”