As he watched Arkansas’ 68-66 win over Texas Tech on Sunday to clinch the program’s first trip to the Sweet 16 in 25 years, Razorbacks signee Chance Moore thought about what his future might hold.
The 6-5, 190-pound Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern standout was specifically thinking about being a part of an Arkansas return trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2022.
“It is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience and would be just a really big accomplishment just to say you played in the NCAA Tournament,” Moore said. “I am just excited and will continue to prepare for that big stage and get back there with my teammates next season.”
He is excited about the chance to play with Arkansas freshmen Jaylin Williams and Davonte “Devo” Davis – who both shined in the win – and injured freshman Khalen “KK” Robinson, and other returnees. It is widely speculated that SEC freshman of the year Moses Moody will declare for the NBA Draft after the season.
“Just watching them play, the impact of the freshmen – Jaylin and Devo – and knowing that I will be playing with them next year just makes it even more exciting for me,” Moore said. “We are going to have a solid squad next year and we can make another run in the tournament again.”
Moore, a potential Moody position replacement who averaged 21 points and 8 rebounds for McEachern (24-5) this season, was thrilled with the grit his future college team showed Sunday.
“It was a great game, hard-fought and I am glad we pulled off the victory,” Moore said. “I knew Texas Tech was a good team and wouldn’t go away easily. They got on a little run, but in the clutch we made enough plays – great defense and knocking down our free throws - to finish off a great victory.”
Arkansas will add Moore, Corsicana (Texas) Navarro College forward Akol Mawein (6-10, 240) and Arkansas-Little Rock transfer forward Kamani Johnson (6-8, 225), who has been practicing with the Razorbacks since enrolling in January, and possibly others to next season’s roster.
Maewin, averaging 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds for Navarro (11-5), also admires Arkansas’ toughness.
“The games throughout the (nonconference) and the big-time games were the ones that stood out to me and showed me how dedicated and determined the team was to get wins,” Mawein said. “I watched Jaylin Williams, Vance (Jackson) and Moses and watched how they are great team leaders.”
Maewin noted Arkansas’ coaches have talked about him playing small forward, power forward and center next season.
“They have told me they want be to be an impact player by the time I get there,” Mawein said. “I know that by the time I get there I have to start working from the jump.”
McEachern’s season ended in the Georgia Class 7A state tournament semifinals with a 59-58 overtime loss to Lilburn Berkmar.
McEachern, led by a trio of 6-5 seniors, had downed Berkmar 88-81 in triple overtime on Dec. 12.
“We had a pretty good run this year,” Moore said. “We had some seniors, a main core of Camron McDowell – a Georgia commit – Bobby Moore and myself. We led the younger guys to a pretty good season and just came up a little bit short, but it was still a good run.”
Moore missed his team’s first 15 games with an injury.
“I started a little late, but the games I did play, I thought I did pretty good,” Moore said. “I thought I could have played better. I need to get better, have a more consistent jumper and a tighter handle and overall better defense.”
He continues to put in work in the offseason.
“I will just finish the rest of school, focusing on academics,” Moore said. “I’ve been training, playing basketball and weight lifting just to be as ready as a I can when I get up there at Arkansas.”