FAYETTEVILLE — One of the youngest players at Arkansas’ Elite Camp on Monday also has a chance to be one of the best.
West Memphis freshman Chris Moore (6-6, 210), one of 75 or so campers on hand, is already nationally known before he even makes his high school debut this fall.
Moore, who is expected to grow to 6-10 and will be the first freshman to ever play varsity basketball for the Blue Devils, already has interest from Arkansas, Tennessee, Baylor, Michigan and New Mexico, and could garner the same type attention nationally as former Bentonville player Malik Monk.
“To me, it is just about being humble,” Moore said. “To me, the attention feels good, but you can’t let that get to your head because it will throw you off track a lot. I keep it to myself and I just go out there and do what I do on the court.”
All three of Arkansas’ 2017 commits - El Dorado center Daniel Gafford (6-11, 223), Little Rock Parkview guard Khalil Garland (6-6, 190) and Little Rock Mills small forward Darious Hall (6-7, 210) were all in Fayetteville on Monday although Gafford was the only one who went through camp.
“I love seeing those guys and we are going to be the Big 3 while playing together,” Hall said. “We are going to get it done together with our future teammates.”
Some other top prospects in Fayetteville on Monday were 2018 Jonesboro junior point guard prospect Desi Sills (6-1, 170) - who was on an unofficial visit - Baptist prep center Connor Vanover (7-3, 220), Marion sophomore Tim Ceasar (6-8) and El Dorado senior guard Czar Perry (6-1, 180).
There was also Brashear, Texas, sophomore center Geodsgift Ezedinma (6-7, 190) and Batesville Southside sophomore center Tomislav Miholjcic (6-9, 250).
Ezedinma grew up near Arkansas center Moses Kingsley’s homeland of Abuja, Nigeria while Miholcic is from Belgrade, Serbia and played at Southwest Christian last season.
Moore had ridiculous numbers last season - 27 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 blocks - while playing for West Memphis Monroe Junior High last season.
For a school that has such talent as former NBA players Sonny Weems, Keith Lee and Michael Cage, being the first freshman bumped up to play varsity is a big deal for Moore.
“I think it is going to be fun, playing my first year of high school basketball,” Moore said. “I know it is something that I have got to get used to. I have to grow into. They have said that I am the first kid to ever do it at West Memphis so that’s a good thing, but I can’t let it go to my head.”
Moore played for both the Team Portis Arkansas Wings 14 and 15-under AAU squads this spring and summer with the 15-and-under team winning the national championship.
“I played good this summer and this was probably one of my best summers that I have ever played basketball,” Moore said.
“I think the best part of my game right now is inside the three-point line. I like to attack the basket, I like to get the ball off the glass off the defensive glass and take it coast-to-coast. That is really what I am good at.
“I really have to work on my shooting. I am a streaky shooter. I am not consistent on that so I have to work on my outside shot because I am not really a four, I am a three. I am a wing player.
Moore has relatives who have played at both Tennessee and North Carolina and one of his uncles in 7-foot-3.
“The doctor said I am suppose to be 6-10,” Moore said. “The tallest person in our family is 7-3 so I got it from my uncle. He played for Tennessee for a little while, but blew out his knee.”
Moore is excited about building a relationship with Arkansas’ coaches.
“I really just got started with my relationship with the Arkansas coaches since I am so young, but I really like them and what they have going here,” Moore said.
“This is a really nice school. I like the coaching staff and I know some of the players from watching high school.”