Central Michigan University Athletics
Marcus Moore Profile
2/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2004
By Don Helinski
Associate Sports Information Director
Sophomore forward Marcus Moore always dreamed of playing Division I basketball following high school. However, academics put a little delay in his plans.
Moore didn't have good enough grades to get into Central Michigan University coming out of Mount Clemens High School. Instead, he enrolled at Mid-Michigan Community College in Mount Pleasant for one semester and achieved the marks needed to begin classes at CMU in January of 2003.
Because of NCAA regulations, he had to sit out for a full year and couldn't even practice with the team until just before the Michigan game this season.
"It made me become a stronger person," Moore said of his situation. "It made me want to work hard on my game and my academics because I knew my teammates were going to be on me and I didn't want to let them down."
Moore said he chose to pursue getting into CMU because it was the best opportunity for him.
"The coaching staff recruited me in high school and I felt they really wanted me to be part of the CMU team," he said.
One of the things that intrigued the coaching staff about the 6-5 forward was his natural athletic ability. He sports a 38-inch vertical jump, the best on the team.
"It's all God-given ability," he said. "I started playing basketball in the sixth grade but I never really concentrated on my body. I just jumped all the time and used my gifts as much as I could."
Once Moore knew enough of the system he became a part of CMU's playing rotation. In fact, he started the first six games he played and posted 12 points and three rebounds in his first game against Tri-State.
His minutes have dropped lately and he's nursing an ankle injury, but he's keeping his head up.
"At first I was a little negative with it but I've realized that I have to play through it and pay my dues," he said. "It's been frustrating at times but I love playing this game."
