Most people now know that Jaylen Green, a young prodigy, was selected by the Houston Rockets as the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

But few people know where the 19-year-old defender came from.

Greene grew up in Fresno, California, a county in the central valley with a population of about 1 million. When people think of California, San Francisco and Los Angeles come to mind first, then the Bay Area, and then maybe San Diego.

Ever since Green became the number one high school student in his grade in his second year of high school, there was a question that had been bothering him.

Green told Yahoo Sports that reporters constantly ask him, "Where are you from, where is Fresno?" which is never rude. I always felt like I was respected wherever I went, "but no one really knows where Fresno is."

Gang activity and poverty have always been embedded in the city, but in the past ten years Crime and murder increased during the year. According to a statistical report, "Fresno has the highest crime rate per 100,000 people. It is more than four times that of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose or San Francisco, with the exception of Oakland."

This A city too small to be classified as a "everyone knows your name" town. "I say Fresno is a small city with very radical ideas but a lot of good people," Green told Yahoo Sports. "I always bring that up because people just don't know Fresno. They think it's A nice little city, but not really."

Green spent his first three years of high school at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, where he became a star among fans. player, then transferred to prep school in Napa, California. The number of followers on his social media accounts has grown exponentially, making him afraid to appear in public to avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I think my belief in basketball kept me away from (the street stuff)," Green told Yahoo Sports. "When I was a sophomore in high school, I knew I wanted to play basketball. NBA, I have been working hard for this goal and spending most of my time in the gym."

Green did not forget that the Detroit Pistons passed him up and selected Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick. Green played for the G League Ignite last season and had workouts with only two teams before the draft: Houston and Detroit.

Green told Yahoo Sports: "I want to be the No. 1 pick, but I don't want to stay in the city of Detroit." "In Houston, I feel much more comfortable." It feels like a real home. environment. In Detroit, it felt like I was back in the closed environment of the G League, which made me uncomfortable.

"In the closed environment of the (G League), I had nothing to do but stay in the gym. The only place I dared to go was my apartment. That's how I felt about Detroit." .

"Every time I stand on the court, I always feel like I have something to prove to those people in the stands," Green told Yahoo Sports. "There are a lot of people who are going to hate me, no matter what I do. Good or bad, they always have stereotypes about me. "That's all I was thinking about when I hit the floor. I'm going to prove those people wrong.

Green has a chance to be the best player in the city of Fresno. But the bottom line is that if he continues to develop, he has a chance to become one of the best players in the NBA.

The 6-foot-5 guard is ready for the 2021-22 season, and after dominating Summer League, he has his sights set on his next accomplishment: Rookie of the Year honors.

"I need to get it. I feel like I'm the best player this year," Green told Yahoo Sports.