Former Brentwood star Moore scores 26 at JBC
J.J. Moore wasn't voted off the Island, but in order to be a survivor in the world of big-time college basketball, the former Brentwood star felt he had to leave it.
"I needed to play a higher brand of ball. It was a big help for me because it showed me I could play at the next level. I could play in the Big East," said Moore, a first-team Newsday All-Long Island selection last year as a junior, who transferred to South Kent (Conn.), a prep school, for his senior year.
Moore, playing before family and friends who still live in Brentwood at Madison Square Garden Saturday, demonstrated he learned his prep school lessons well. The 6-5, 200-pound swing man who will play at Pittsburgh scored a team-high 26 points to help the Suburban Team defeat the City Team, 137-133, in the afternoon portion of the Jordan Brand Classic.
Moore was the only Long Island link. Tennessee-bound Tobias Harris of Half Hollow Hills West missed last night's main event, the Jordan Brand All-American Game featuring the nation's top 20 high school players, because of a broken foot suffered in last month's McDonald's All-American Game.
"This was very exciting for me," Moore said. "I've never played in the Garden and it was a great atmosphere. I saw my friends and family in the stands and I heard them yelling 'J-J! J-J!' So I gave them a little show."
He gave them a little bit of everything. Moore hit 10 of 16 field goals, including three of four long-distance three-pointers. He also thrilled more than his hometown fans with five dunks.
In the first half, on a clean breakaway, he nailed a soaring, reverse dunk. Midway in the second half, he utilized a high-speed crossover move to blow past a defender for a crowd-pleasing two-handed slam. With 4:34 left, a shake-and-bake move left the lane open and Moore filled it quickly, finishing with an impressive one-handed flush.
Moore said his overall game improved because the competition improved. He said he averaged about 25 points, six rebounds and three assists. "On Long Island, there were kids who are 6-foot playing center. Going up there , I was playing against 6-9 and 6-11 kids and playing my right position ."
If he had stayed at Brentwood, Moore contended, "I would've played center or mostly in the low post. At prep school, I played my rightful game."
It's a game that expanded, especially from the perimeter. Said longtime recruiting guru Tom Konchalski, who was at courtside, "He could always run the floor and is a very good transition scorer. The biggest improvement from his junior year is that now he is a lethal three-point shooter."
