Green showing sure hands as receiver

Cameron Green’s ability to catch almost anything is deeply rooted since his toddler years.

The Stevenson sophomore continues to make big plays. The largest came in Friday’s 42-7 win over host Grant (3-1, 1-0 North Suburban Prairie), when he secured a 59-yard touchdown pass from Willie Bourbon.

“If I put in anywhere in his vicinity, I know he will grab it,” Bourbon said. “He has great hands.”

Green has a long history of snaring the pigskin.

“I’ve been playing catch with my dad since I was 2 years old,” Green said. “’I’ve always tried to catch it with my hands.”

He’s also worked hard at using his ears.

“My dad has been my coach since I was a little kid,” he said of Mark Green, who played for the Bears from 1989-93. “He’s always giving me tips. And he always helps me with the little things I need to improve.”

Bourbon is glad to have Green on the receiving end of his tosses.

“We’ve been playing together since we were five or six,” Bourbon said. “He has great athleticism and great speed.”

These old friends have no trouble making a connection.

“I can feel where Cameron is going to be,” Bourbon said. “And if I start to scramble, he knows where to go.”

In the old days, the duo had a different relationship on the field.

“I was a running back, and he (Bourbon) was a fullback,” Green said.

As Green moved through middle school, he slid over to tight end before finally becoming a wide receiver. It’s a good bet he won’t be switching positions any time soon.

“I love running routes, and I like the one-on-one competition,” Green said. “Trying to beat someone is a great challenge.”

Bourbon knows he can always look to his fellow sophomore to make a big play.

“Cameron is a great target,” Bourbon said. “He’s definitely a Division I prospect.”

His ascension to star status has been aided by the presence of senior receivers Alan Velev and Matt Morrissey.

“If I make a mistake, they (Velev and Morrissey) will help me,” Green said. “If they make a mistake, I can help them.”

Green takes comfort in the fact he is not a one-man show.

“There’s not much pressure on me,” he said. “There are other people who can do the job, and I know they will do their jobs well.”

Green believes the best is yet to come for Stevenson (3-1, 1-0 North Suburban Lake). The Patriots welcome Warren (2-2, 1-1) to Lincolnshire at 7:30 p.m. Friday for a NSC Lake showdown.

“I feel we’re just becoming a great team,” he emphasized. “We’re starting to become a true football family.”

When the football season ends, Green will not rest. He plays basketball in the winter and runs track in the spring.

“It (busy schedule) keeps me out of trouble,” Green noted.

For now, opposing defensive backs are in jeopardy whenever Green steams downfield.

“Cameron is a very special player,” Bourbon said.