S P O RT S
BY: JOSH HELMER
PRESENTED BY
COLLEGE BOUND Moore girls basketball commitments add excitement to upcoming season
A
spring of college commitments highlights the excitement for Moore girls basketball entering next season. Three seniors-to-be accepted full-ride scholarships. Raychael Harjo announced her commitment to Central Florida on April 21, Aaliyah Moore followed on April 25 with her commitment to Texas and Peyton Andrews committed to Oklahoma Christian on June 2. Harjo, a 6-foot-2 forward, averaged 12 points per game this past season. After sending out her highlight tape to a number of colleges, it was UCF that caught her eye. It was clear to her that the Golden Knights’ coaching staff had made her commitment a priority during their April Zoom call. “I started narrowing it down, asking where I would see myself for the next four years,” Harjo said. “Then, we had the call and it was great. They were so nice, so enthusiastic.” Harjo said she was excited when UCF head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson officially offered. 44 | July 2020
“I just felt it in my heart right there that UCF was the school for me, because they have everything on my checklist,” she shared. “They have what I want to study… nice weather near the beach. I felt it in my heart that UCF was the perfect school. We had already done so much research on the school. I love the energy. So, I told my mom, ‘I can’t wait. I want to commit now.’” Moore, a 6-foot-3 forward, averaged 21.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game as a junior. That earned her the Gatorade Oklahoma Girls Basketball Player of the Year award. Rated as the No. 7 recruit in ESPN’s HoopGurlz Class of 2021 rankings, Moore chose Texas over offers from UCLA, Florida State, Notre Dame, Syracuse and South Carolina. The close proximity to family in Oklahoma and the opportunity to pursue a sportscasting career with the Longhorn Network were selling points that pushed Texas over the top. “It just felt like home,” Moore said.
“They have all types of opportunities for me. Academics was a big thing and my family being close. I love the coaches. They’re great leaders that can help me reach my goals.” “I also love the players that are there. Each one of them are like my sisters,” she added. “I think we can do so many great things together.” The Longhorns are getting a five-star talent that continues to expand her game. Moore shot 36 percent from three-point range this past season on more than 80 attempts. “One thing that I would describe myself as is very versatile,” Moore said. “I’ve worked on that since my freshman year. My ball handling has improved, my three-point shot, my midrange. I still have so much more growth and that’s what makes me so excited for the future.” Andrews, a 5-foot-10 point and shooting guard, averaged 7.5 points and 3.2 assists per game last season. She also led the Lions in minutes played per game (28.0), three-point shooting
