Will Kansas Jayhawks’ 3-point shooting improve this season? One newcomer says yes
Fifth-year guard Shakeel Moore has done more than ride a stationary bike and shoot on the side since undergoing surgery to repair a hairline fracture in his right ankle in early September.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound former Mississippi State starter has studied his Kansas basketball teammates closely from the sidelines at practice, developing positive impressions of players on the 2024-25 roster.
Moore — the transfer portal acquisition averaged 7.9 points a game on 46.8% shooting (36.3% from 3) while starting 22 of 33 games last season at MSU — was quick to mention several Jayhawks when asked to assess KU’s long-distance shooting this preseason.
“Definitely Juan can shoot the 3-pointer. It’s looking promising for sure,” Moore said of senior point guard Dajuan Harris. The 6-foot-2 Columbia, Missouri native averaged 8.5 points a game on 42.4% shooting (38.4% from 3) a year ago.
“I would say our shooters now are myself (and) Diggy. Diggy can shoot the ball. Fans are going to be so excited watching him,” Moore added.
He was referring to David “Diggy” Coit, a 5-foot-11 transfer guard who averaged 20.8 points a game on 40.7% shooting (33.7% from 3) in 2023-24 at Northern Illinois.
“Zeke (Mayo) can shoot it as well. I think all our guards, Rylan Griffen is one — I think we’re going to turn it around with 3-point shooting,” Moore said.
Mayo, a 6-4 senior, averaged 18.8 points a game on 46.6% shooting (39.1% from 3) last season at South Dakota State. Griffen, a 6-6 junior from Final Four participant Alabama, averaged 11.2 points per game on 45.4% shooting (39.2% from 3).
“I know last year it wasn’t a great 3-point shooting team,” Moore noted of KU, which hit 195 of 587 3s in 2023-24 for 33.2%.
The Jayhawks hit 89 of 289 3s in Big 12 games for 30.8%
“Guys can shoot the ball. AJ Storr is probably one of our best shooters if not the best. Everybody is comfortable. Hunter (Dickinson) is better shooting the 3 now,” Moore stated.
Storr, a 6-7 junior wing, averaged 16.8 points on 43.4% shooting at Wisconsin last season including 32% from 3. The 7-2 Dickinson averaged 17.9 points a game on 54.8% shooting (35.4% from 3) during his first season at KU and fourth year in college overall.
More than a shooter
Once Moore is able to practice — he’s hoping to compete in drills at half speed this week — he’ll try to showcase his overall game.
He’s not regarded as just a shooter.
“Anything you need — the 2 or 3 — truthfully I am a point guard. That’s what I play. That’s the position I will play as a professional,” Moore said. He dished 59 assists to 36 turnovers last season at MSU.
“My whole college career I’ve played combo. Whatever coach (Bill Self) wants me to do. If you need me to run the point, I run the point. If you need me to be combo guard, I’ll be a combo guard.”
Moore is regarded as an above-average defender. He had 28 steals last season in 33 games while averaging 2.2 rebounds per contest.
“I’m a two-way (defender),” Moore said with a smile. “I’ll stop your best player and I’ll get your best player too.”
Of his overall game, Mississippi State coach Chris Jans told the SEC Network: “He’s a pest on defense. He gets his hands on a lot of balls. I tell him to shoot that thing (on offense). Shak’s got a killer shot-fake. It’s like you got a toy at Christmas and it’s worn out by the New Year. He just uses it over and over, and it’s a really good one, but we need him to score for us, obviously. He’s gotten a lot more confident recently.”
Why did he choose KU as transfer destination?
Moore, who on June 5 announced for KU as a transfer destination over West Virginia, Seton Hall, Wake Forest and others, said he became interested in the Jayhawk program when contacted by KU staff member Joe Dooley in recruiting.
“I heard (from KU) and didn’t respond too much at first, but then again I did because of the relationship I had with coach Dooley. Me and coach Dooley go way back to 2018. He was one of the first coaches to recruit me,” Moore said.
Dooley, former head coach at East Carolina, recruited Moore during Moore’s senior year at Moravian Prep in, Hudson, North Carolina. Moore ultimately chose North Carolina State and played for the Wolfpack one season before heading to MSU.
“That relationship has been there always. I’m big on relationships. With coach Dooley and Self it was going to be a good year for me to head out here and finish,” Moore said.
His favorite parts of being a Jayhawk so far have been “the culture meetings we have every so often in here,” he said of Hadl Auditorium, adjacent to Allen Fieldhouse.
“We all get together and talk about things that make our team stronger mentally and things we can do to better ourselves. Those days uplift us and I’m big on relationships. They bring coaches closer to the guys and guys to coaches. That’s been the highlight for me.”
He added: “We didn’t have that at all the other schools. It’s important for the team to build that chemistry and bonding when it comes down to March (and postseason).”
Teammates have inspired Moore during rehab
Moore — he still expects to be ready to return to full-time practicing by Halloween (Oct. 31) — said his new teammates have supported him during rehab from surgery.
“It is disappointing, but it wasn’t bad mentally for me,” Moore said. “I had guys around me who were uplifting me. I had a medical staff that was going to take care of me. I knew I was a strong healer and I’d come back in better shape.
“I had the same injury in high school on my left ankle,” he added. “I knew it wasn’t too bad where I’d miss anything in the season. We were so far away from the first game I knew I’d be back sooner than later.”
Moore said he likes what he’s seen from 22nd-year KU coach Self.
“I love coach Self. He brings the best out of players. ... He shoots you straight. He is never going to kiss your you-know-what. The biggest part, being in my last year, is to listen to coach Self.”
KU junior forward Zach Clemence is a roommate of Moore.
“He is cool. He’s a great guy. I can’t wait for him to get out there on the court again. We haven’t seen him out there in a bit,” Clemence said. “He’s handled everything perfectly, like a pro. It’s good to see.”
Self likes Moore’s work on defensive end
Of Moore, who is playing his last year of college basketball, Self said: “I think Shakeel could be our best on-the-ball defender. He’s not a scorer, but he can make a shot. But I think he’s our best on-the-ball defender, potentially. He knows how to play, smart. It’s his fifth year, he’s been in the ACC, been in the SEC.
“I think that it hurt him personally that he’s been out. It’s probably helped some others to allow them more opportunities early. But I can’t see a reason health-wise that he can’t be close to full speed by the first week of November, something like that.”
Moore, by the way, has earned his undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
He posted on his former school’s X account: “This is a big accomplishment for me. Earning this degree means everything to me since I am the first to do it within my family. It is a big accomplishment for my family. Mississippi State has prepared me to grow into adulthood early. I have been 10 hours away from my family and being here has allowed me to grow into the man I am today.”
This story was originally published October 22, 2024 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Will Kansas Jayhawks’ 3-point shooting improve this season? One newcomer says yes."
