Moore talks Temple, recruitment
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -- Clifton Moore, a versatile class of 2017 forward from nearby Hatboro-Horsham High School, picked up his first high major offer following Temple’s team camp in June and has since blown up during the July live period, as schools like Saint John’s, East Carolina and Saint Bonaventure have entered the mix.
Since attending that Temple team camp and going up against fellow high major prospects in Zach Kent - a 2017 big man from Saint Augustine Prep in New Jersey - and Jordan Pierce - a 7-footer from Union Catholic (N.J.) - Moore has continued to keep in touch with the Owls’ coaching staff.
“I like that they (the coaches) are just real with you,” Moore told OwlScoop.com following a two-point loss at Live in AC by Elevate Hoops. “They don’t sugarcoat anything, they’re just real. They want a basketball player, not a specific position. They just want a guy that can play and knows the fundamentals of the game.”
Temple assistant and former 76ers standout and NBA veteran Aaron McKie has taken the role as the lead recruiter on Moore.
“He’s cool because he grew up like a normal guy,” Moore said of McKie, who ended up playing 13 years in the NBA after stops at Temple and Simon Gratz High School in North Philly. “He wasn’t a big recruit or anything like that, but he said that his hard work paid off.
“He just told me to enjoy my childhood now and focus on school, basketball and social life and balance it.”
Meanwhile, head coach Fran Dunphy draws comparisons to Moore’s AAU coach, according to the 6-foot-9, 190-pounder from Horsham.
“He wants to bring the best out of you and he wants you to compete at a high level with no let-up,” Moore said.
Moore is a unique case due to the fact that he plays with the AAU program that he grew up with in Hoopdreamz, which doesn’t have the shoe brand backing like Sports U, WE-R1, Team Final and some of the other big-time teams in the Philly area.
So why did Moore decide to turn down offers from some of the shoe-sponsored teams and stick with Hoopdreamz?
“I had to stick with my guys,” he said. “I’ve been with them since I was nine and I grew up with those guys.”
When asked about the schools that have been recruiting him the hardest, Moore said he has been hearing from “everybody” and things have been “equal.”
“I’ve just been trying to keep my options open,” he said.
As for what comes after the July live period, Moore said he doesn’t have any visits, but he’s aiming to make his college decision before his high school season begins.
“Probably at some point during the fall,” Moore said of his decision timeframe.