Griffins add star Ross Sheppard point guard Moore to 2018-19 recruiting class
Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – MacEwan men's basketball head coach Eric Magdanz calls him the best high school point guard in Alberta.
Keyon Moore is set to lead the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds on a quest for the 2018 provincial title.
Before he does that, though, some news: After he graduates from the Edmonton high school, Moore will become a member of the MacEwan Griffins, starting in the 2018-19 Canada West season.
"Keyon is a remarkable basketball player that we are excited to have join us at MacEwan University," said Magdanz, who officially announced the signing on Thursday. "He possesses a unique combination of court vision, athleticism and skill that will make him an effective player in Canada West.
"In addition, he is left-handed, which gives an extra challenge to defenders. We think Keyon has the chance to grow as a player and he is only touching the surface of his potential."
High praise for the longtime Team Alberta player, who was teammates with another 2018-19 MacEwan recruit – Alex Jap – on the 17U provincial team in 2016.
"We've been watching Keyon since he was in about Grade 8," said Magdanz. "He's been a pretty special talent for a long time.
"As we got to know him better and understand what he wants from his university basketball career, things just began to fit with MacEwan. By the time he got into Grade 12 here, we were able to sign him early."
Moore will embark on a Bachelor of Arts program at MacEwan next September. By playing university basketball, the 5-foot-11 point guard will be following in the footsteps of his father, Andre Moore, who previously played NCAA Div. III ball for New York University.
Like most top point guards, Moore is a good distributor of the ball, but he brings a healthy amount of scoring upside, too.
"He's a very good passer, but he can score more than your average point guard, which is what sets him apart," said Magdanz of the player who has been Ross Sheppard's starting point guard since Grade 10. "He's not just a passer."
The current MacEwan Griffins are preparing for their first preseason action next weekend in Waterloo, Ont. at the Naismith Classic. They'll be one of six men's team competing in the tournament and will play Waterloo, Ottawa and Laurier from Oct. 12-14.
