Former Knight eligible for WBNA draft

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

Jessica Moore recently completed her college basketball career at the University of Connecticut. But that does not mean her basketball career is over.

The Colony High School graduate and former Alaska Player of the Year is among seniors eligible for tomorrow's Women's National Basketball Association draft.

There is no indication whether Moore will be one of the 39 players selected in the draft, which is televised live on ESPN2 at 7:30 a.m. AST. Moore worked out an WNBA pre-draft camp this week and Connecticut, Charlotte and Detroit have all expressed strong interest in her.

Moore spent five years in the UConn program, her first as a redshirt, at the center position, but scouts said professional teams may also use her at the power forward position. Ann Meyers, a hall- of-fame women's basketball player and analyst for wnba.com called Moore, "a talented player coming from a top program."

Meyers said Moore is still a bit slight and has to improve on her outside shooting, but has great footwork and is a smart player who surprises people on the defensive end.

Moore averaged 8.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game during her four years on the court with the Huskies. Moore started 72 straight games as a sophomore and junior and helped guide her team to three straight NCAA Division I national championships. She was named to the All-Final Four team as a junior and the Big East All-Tournament team as a sophomore.

The Huskies had a 132-13 record with Moore on the court.

As a prep, Moore was twice named state player of the year and a Parade All-American as a senior.

Moore is one of the top women's basketball players ever to come out of the state of Alaska.