Decemer 8, 2009
Moore sees Crimson
It’s not prominent but a link titled “Rhodes Scholars” resides on the Harvard University athletics site. Click on it and a long list of Crimson athletes who also earned such an prestigious academic honor appears. Now nobody can actually say there will be a men’s basketball addition to this list but it wouldn’t take us by surprise if such a thing comes to fruition down the road. That’s specifically because 6-foot-8 James Moore of Jesuit High has committed to Coach Tommy Amaker’s men’s hoop program in Cambridge and Moore’s willingness to work hard, both on and off the court, is so readily apparent.
Moore scores academically and athletically
"Academics has always played a strong part in our family," Moore explained and then elaborated on his recent decision. "Colleges in the West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference offered me but I was looking for a different [going elsewhere] kind of experience. It came down to Harvard and Cornell and I decided I preferred Boston over Ithaca. Plus there is Coach [Tommy] Amaker (the former Duke backcourter) and that the name ‘Harvard’ carries some weight."
Asked if he envisioned attending an Ivy League school and playing basketball for one when he was younger, Moore replied, "Not at all, not even through my early years in high school."
Besides his studies, the time and effort Moore spent on his skill development obviously paid off big time. But an element of wisdom also took root within: "When I was younger, I was thinking about going to the best basketball place but as you get older and mature, you realize that’s only half of the equation."
Here is Philippe Doherty, Hoosier Director of Operations, on Moore, the basketballer: "Jamie is a big time shooter who can shoot out to 23 feet. He has deep range which will help his future team (Harvard) immediately. He also can bounce it to create his shot. He is longer and a better rebounder than most think. Jamie is a quiet person by nature but do not let that fool you. He blocks shots, rebounds, is a great passer, and has a big time IQ on the floor."
Doherty continued, "Jamie had huge moments this summer, playing very well against different types of 4’s from across the country. Going up against Pac-10, ACC and Big Ten commits, Jamie knocked down shots and started Kiwi’s [Gardner] fast breaks. Teaming up with Kiwi and Travis [Souza] on pro screens and sprint screens, he was hard to stop. Harvard is getting a very good face up 4 man who possesses the #1 skill in basketball, the ability to shoot."
Moore isn’t the first northern California hoopster to enroll at Harvard. Jeremy Lin, Palo Alto High, is in his senior year and Oliver McNally, Branson School, is a sophomore. McNally, like Moore, is a Bay Area Hoosiers alum and averaged 23 minutes a game as a freshman, paving the way for a sort of Hoosier pipeline.
Here’s Doherty again: "Harvard’s staff, starting with former Harvard and current Virginia Commonwealth University assistant Will Wade to Coach Destefano to Coach Amaker, each was very aggressive and really wanted Jamie to be a part of what they are building. Harvard is currently 6-1 with nine freshman and sophomores on the team. They have a bright future."
Moore is looking to major in something business-related.
He specifically wanted to thank his coaches in the Bay Area Hoosiers -- Doherty, Rob Jones and Aalim Moor II -- Jesuit Coach Greg Harcos, and his family and friends, plus his teammates on both the Hoosiers and at Jesuit High.
Moor had this to say about not only his protégé but Moore’s parents too: "James was a joy to be around. He is a class act and I wish him the ultimate success. James has the most wonderful parents you could ever meet -- it’s been a privilege to be involved with him and his family." Unknown to many who only know Moore as the quiet type, Moor added, "James can be a real funny guy."
Doherty agreed: "Jamie is academically prepared for Harvard and will thrive as he is challenged in one of the best universities in the world. It is a perfect match. Jesuit High and his parents have prepared him for his next challenges. He has outstanding parents of the utmost character."
But first there is the matter of the Marauders and their opponents -- Sheldon, Folsom, Pleasant Grove and others -- in the Delta River League. Jesuit finished 11-16 overall last season but a batch of juniors are now experienced seniors and two younger players in particular are looking to provide big dividends: sophomore backcourters Parker Uu and Akachi Okugo. "I think we’re going to be good this season," Moore offered, adding "we had a lot of juniors last season who weren’t used to being the main guys but now we’ll have the stability of a bunch of seniors." Eight seniors, including Moore, populate the Jesuit roster in 2009-2010.