Decemer 24, 2009

Make way for Moore

Kevin McCarthy
 

It happens every so often. A heretofore unknown talent appears on the scene and shakes up both the player and team ratings, leaving fans wondering who is this guy? Well, ‘this guy’ is sending the northern California hoops seismic detector off the scale -- try 36 and 37 points and two most valuable player awards after twin College Park High of Pleasant Hill championship game victories in a pair of early season tournaments. His name is Mckenzie Moore.

photo of Mckenzie Moore
From Nowhere to the Spotlight

To date, College Park is 10-2, having finished on top in the Hogan of Vallejo and Northgate tournaments while posting a 6-0 record. This after going 12-14 last season, 5-7 in league play.

Moore, the tallest on the team at 6-foot-6 and possessing the wingspan of someone 6-foot-11, plays the point for Coach Craig Battle’ Falcons. To the tune of a team-leading array of 24.7 points per game, 4.9 assists, 3.6 steals and 1.4 blocks and that’s leaving out his 6.5 rebounds a contest which comes in second on the squad.

He managed a total of 84 points and 25 rebounds in the Jim Stephenson Invitational at host Hogan High. A pair of free throws by Moore forced the final game into overtime and then he totaled six of his 37 to best Hogan.

Here is Battle on his newcomer: "He makes everyone around him a better ballplayer because at 6-foot-6 he can see the floor and over his defender. Mckenzie keeps our offense moving because everyone knows they are going to get the ball."

Battle then recalled how 6-foot-9 Earvin Johnson possessed the same advantage at the point both in college and the pros.

Moore agrees with this assessment: "I can see the whole floor and see over defenders when I’m passing."

He views his role as a leader and is comfortable with the challenge such a role entails: "A lot of the players look up to me and my job is to come through for them."

Longtime Bay Area basketball fixture and current Richmond P.A.L. Athletic Director Carl Foster is mentoring Moore. Of his protégés basketball prowess, Foster has high praise. "Mckenzie is the best passer in northern California and a very good prospect today but he will be even better four years from now in college where his talent will be even more valuable. He is extremely long, with a unique skills set and incredible court vision who delivers the ball to a teammates in the shooting pocket and to cutters right on pace. He reminds old schoolers Bobby Wilkerson and Paul Pressey."

Foster added, "Mckenzie is effervescent and charismatic, someone who draws people to him but he is also humble and likes to be in a gym working."

Moore has recently aligned himself with St. Mary’s and Coach Randy Bennett although a letter-of-intent cannot officially be signed until November of his senior season -- he is presently listed in the 2011 class.

Why the Gaels? Moore answered, "I liked the coach and also liked the offensive style St. Mary’s has. I want to be running the floor plus I will play at the point there. I call it a blessing."

Battle concurs with the decision. "I have the utmost respect for Coach [Randy] Bennett and his staff. Mckenzie plays his best basketball when he is at the point. Once he there [in Moraga], he’ll make life much easier for his teammates there."

Moore also noted that his skill level is advancing. "Phil Handy came into my life a couple of months ago and is helping me with fundamentals and techniques."

Here is Handy on Moore: "As a player, Mckenzie has some skills that are very hard to teach. He has been blessed with great basketball instincts, height and an incredible wing span. That combination alone makes for a nasty mix when it comes to hoops. Skills-wise, he has a ways to go but he is one of the most naturally gifted players I have seen in a while. He really makes players around him better with the way he sees the floor and unconditionally shares the ball. Often times, you see high school players who think that scoring is the only way to impact the game -- McKenzie does score but he really impacts the game with his passing and you can see it very clearly. I’ve had some D-1 coaches say he is too unselfish."

Handy also added, "Funny enough, his basketball skills are not what impresses me the most. He is a great kid off the court. Mckenzie has come along way as a young man in such a short amount of time and, truth be told, I find myself learning things about life from him! I always want to see the kids/players I work with succeed because I take a personal interest in them all. I am really pulling for this kid as he truly wants to make it big on the court and in life."

But first comes Diablo Valley League play. The grouping consists of Berean Christian, Northgate, Ygnacio Valley, Concord, Clayton Valley and Mt. Diablo, in addition to College Park. These games begin January 5. The Falcons finished 5-7 last season but try locating anyone who believes that will be repeated this go-around.

So start following that new star shining on the Bay Area. Let’s see how far he and the Falcons can fly.