Moody looks to Razorback future after unbeaten senior season

Moses Moody stands Friday, April 12, 2019, during play at Fayetteville High School.

— When Moses Moody (6-6, 190) dons an Arkansas uniform next season, he will do so as a more complete player than he was two years ago as a sophomore at North Little Rock, where he won a Class 6A state championship.

That’s one of the benefits of spending the last two seasons under coach Kevin Boyle at Montverde (Fla.) Academy, which finished this season 25-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country by ESPN.

Moody, who Monday confirmed his intent to sign with Arkansas during the April 15-May 20 late signing period, averaged 11.6 points while shooting 60.1 percent from the field, 46.9 percent from 3-point range and 82.1 percent from the free throw line this season.

“I can’t speak for other prep schools, but I feel like with Montverde and the team we had, you have to be a man when it comes to playing a role that you might not want to play, you might not like to play, but you have to mature and do what you have to do to help your team win,” Moody said.

“I feel like before it was more just going out there playing and trying to score and trying to win, but these last two years we have really slowed the game down and evaluated each step so we have sets with multiple parts and defensive rotations and everything,” he continued. “You look at the game from a more analytical standpoint and breaking every piece of the game down, studying the pros and what they doing out there on the floor."

The only regret for Moody is that his team did not get a chance to play in the Geico High School National Tournament, which was first postponed, moved and then canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus.

His team also included Oklahoma State commit Cade Cunningham, Florida State pledge Scottie Barnes, North Carolina signee Day’Ron Sharpe and Michigan signee Zeb Jackson, all top-100 players nationally.

“I would say that I definitely look back on it as unfinished business,” Moody said. “We worked so hard throughout the year for that one goal, that main goal. Not being able to fully get it, it’s definitely going to be some hard feelings when it comes to that.

“But this season, I had a lot of fun with my team, learned a lot and believe that I am well prepared for the next level.”

Moody, who was able to hold a public ceremony when he committed to the Razorbacks on Nov. 9, is still trying to figure out what date, time and place he will sign his letter of intent with Arkansas.

“I am not sure about that yet,” Moody said. “Me and my family are still trying to figure that out. But, yes, I am signing with Arkansas.”

Moody, ranked the 38th-best player nationally, per ESPN, is part of a five-member class that Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman and his staff have either signed or has committed.

That class is ranked sixth nationally by ESPN and also includes fellow top-100 players in Arkansas signee Davonte Davis (6-4, 175) of Jacksonville and two more pledges in former Bryant High and Oak Hill Academy star Khalen “KK” Robinson (6-1, 180) and Fort Smith Northside big man Jaylin Williams (6-10, 230).

The Razorbacks also have three redshirts sitting out and recently added the commitment of New Mexico graduate transfer Vance Jackson (6-9, 230). Razorbacks star Mason Jones has declared for the NBA Draft, and Jalen Harris has transferred. He recently committed to Georgetown.

“Especially with a couple of guys leaving, I think we are really going to fill that void,” Moody said. “I loved the competitiveness that I saw throughout the team. They just had this togetherness, this brotherhood that I could tell they had on the floor. Everybody had each other’s back when they went to war.

“I feel like Coach (Musselman) was a big part of that. I just saw a sense of camaraderie throughout the coaching staff and the players.”

Moody said that Musselman and his staff’s NBA experience played a factor in his decision to choose Arkansas over Michigan, Virginia, Kansas, Ohio State, Florida, Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas and other programs.

“That made them a big contender,” Moody said. “(Boyle) was also very NBA-minded with NBA sets and all that and then I would go watch the Razorbacks play and I would see the same stuff. So I can see he is coaching on that level.”

Moody is doing what he can to stay in shape right now.

“I can’t leave the house much, so I just stay around the neighborhood, just running around and doing push-ups,” he said. “There is one (basketball goal) down the street that I can go to.”