April 27, 2012

Men’s Basketball Snags Big 10 Transfer with Three Seasons Eligibility Remaining

The Golden Eagle men’s basketball roster continues to grow with the addition of Josiah Moore, a Big 10 transfer out of Nebraska. He will sit out the 2012-13 season due to NCAA transfer regulations but will have three years of eligibility remaining with the Golden Eagles.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Golden Eagle men's basketball roster continues to grow with the addition of Josiah Moore, a Big 10 transfer out of Nebraska. He will sit out the 2012-13 season due to NCAA transfer regulations but will have three years of eligibility remaining with the Golden Eagles.

Moore spent his freshman season with the University of Nebraska Huskers, appearing in 15 games, averaging 1.9 points per game on 46 percent shooting and 0.5 rebounds per contest. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Moore, originally from Norcross, GA., was rated the No. 61 shooting guard in the country by ESPN prior to signing with Nebraska in 2011.

"Josiah has a tremendous ability to create offense either with the catch-and-shoot or scoring off the drive," Golden Eagle head coach Steve Payne said. "Russ [Willemsen] did a great job of recruiting him. He had a great relationship with Josiah when he was at Norcross and did a terrific job of recruiting him when he decided to leave Nebraska.

Moore saw limited action for the Huskers early on, as he made one appearance in his first six games. However, he worked his way up to playing at least 10 minutes in the Huskers' final two non-conference games, including a career-high 14 minutes against Central Michigan on Dec. 20.

After shooting 22 percent in non-conference play, Moore found his range in Big Ten action, hitting 58 percent from the floor in nine league contests. Against Michigan State on Dec. 31, he became the first freshman to start for NU since the end of the 2009-10 season. He also came off the bench for a career-high five points in a loss to then-No. 6 Ohio State on Jan. 21. It was part of a four-game stretch where he averaged 3.0 points per game. His scoring best in Big Ten play was four points, as well as two rebounds, over 13 minutes at sixth-ranked Michigan State on Feb. 25, as he replaced an injured Bo Spencer in the Huskers' rotation.

"Having already established a relationship with the coaching staff at Tech played a big role in my decision to transfer there," Moore said. "When I visited the campus, I really just felt like it was a good fit for me."

With his sizeable 6-5 stature, Moore will bring versatility to the guard position for the Golden Eagles.

"Since I'm a 6-5 wing, I think I'll bring some good size and athleticism to the team, and cause a lot of mismatches on the perimeter," Moore said.

Before Nebraska, Moore played for one of the nation's top high school basketball programs at Norcross High School. The Blue Devils, coached by Jesse McMillan, went 24-9 on the season and won the Class AAAAA state title in 2011.

One of three seniors on the squad to sign with Division I programs, Moore averaged 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game to earn second-team all-state honors from the coaches association and third-team accolades from the Atlanta Tip-Off Club. He had three games of at least 20 points as a senior, highlighted by a 22-point effort in the state playoffs against Centennial. He also totaled a pair of double-doubles on the season.

In addition to being a high school standout at Norcross, he played AAU ball for the Worldwide Renegades and Coach Ryan Falker.

"I picture Josiah as being of the same mold as a Kevin Murphy," Falker said. "He's got good size and the ability to score, but he's also able to handle the ball as a point guard and distributor.

"His Big 10 experience is invaluable. Everything that he learned at Nebraska about work ethic and drive he's going to be able to bring to TTU and share with his teammates."

Besides bringing high-major experience and athleticism to the table for Tech, Moore also embodies characteristics that will blend well with the current TTU roster.

"Josiah is very quiet and unassuming," Falker added. "He's humble and pretty laid back. But once he steps on the court, he's a winner. I'm excited for him and think that he's going to have a great career at Tennessee Tech."