Moore basketball

April 17, 2005

Colony High alum drafted by Charlotte Sting

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

With the 24th pick in the 2005 Women's National Basketball Association draft, the Charlotte Sting select - Jessica Moore.

In part one of her storybook career, Moore was twice named the 4A Alaska State Player of the Year. Her play at Colony High School earned Moore a chance of a lifetime opportunity to attend the University of Connecticut and play in one of the most prestigious women's basketball programs in the nation. Now her career at UConn has opened the book for part three of the Moore story and brought her to the highest level of basketball.

The 2000 Colony High School graduate was selected late in the second round of the WNBA draft on Saturday. Moore will join former Soldotna High School standout Molly Tuter as Alaskans to have played in the WNBA.

While at Connecticut, Moore was crucial to the Huskies success. She was a member of a UConn senior class with a 132-13 record and three national championships. At one point during the Huskies' road to the three-peat, Moore had started 72 straight games and consistently led her team in rebounding and provided a tenacious attack on the defensive end. She finished her career third on UConn's leaderboard in field percentage at .584.

Despite a storied career in Storrs, Conn., there was no guarantee the Palmer native would even be drafted. Moore's name was not included in the various Internet mock drafts, but several teams showed interest in the 6-foot-3 center. Connecticut, Detroit and Charlotte all were said to be in the hunt for Moore. And as the draft grew closer, the interest in Moore rose.

Charlotte assistant coach Fred Chmeil said Moore's play during the pre-draft camps opened the eyes of professional scouts.

"Her stock went way up," Chmeil said. "She's something to watch."

Charlotte chose two players on draft day, Moore and University of Minnesota standout Janel McCarville with the first overall pick. The Sting used both their picks on players who can fit in at either forward or center.

"We wanted to add a physical element to our team, and Jessica Moore is another player who possesses good rebounding and scoring skills," Charlotte head coach and general manager Trudi Lacey said in a press release issued by the Sting. "She brings with her a strong work ethic as well as a championship mentality."

During her prep career, Moore was recognized as one of the most talented girls ever to play basketball in Alaska. Most expected Moore to have a successful career at the college level, and now Moore has exceeded those expectations.

"I guess I really didn't think about it, I was really happy she was going to get the chance to play Division I," Don Witzel, Moore's coach at Colony High School, said. "I know it was a goal of hers, kind of in the background."

The Sting play at the Charlotte Center, in Charlotte, N.C., The organization is one of the original eight WNBA franchises.

The Sting first took the court in 1997 and will begin their eighth season on

May 21.