Here’s why Kansas basketball guard Shakeel Moore may wind up in the regular rotation
Injury-plagued Shakeel Moore played 14 minutes — a minute more than his previous season total of 13 minutes over three games — in Kansas’ 87-53 nonconference basketball victory over Brown of the Ivy League on Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse.
Moore, a 6-foot-1 transfer from Mississippi State, has been extremely limited since undergoing foot surgery in early September. He was effective off the bench in scoring five points with two blocks, one rebound, one assist, one steal and two turnovers.
The spark the combo guard provided, especially on the defensive end, had KU coach Bill Self envisioning a role in the rotation for Moore starting in KU’s next game, the Big 12 opener against West Virginia set for a 1 p.m. tip on New Year’s Eve in Allen.
“I actually thought he looked aggressive and pretty good out there,” Self said after KU improved to 9-2. Brown, which entered on a six-game win streak, fell to 7-4.
“He’s strong and he’s athletic. He’s (also) out of game shape. He asked to come out (for a breather). I think he’s going to help us. I can see he and Juan (Harris) maybe playing a little bit together, but I can see us rest Juan more because we have him,” Self added.
Senior point guard Dajuan Harris scored two points with four assists and a steal in 24 minutes against the Bears.
Moore — he hit 1 of 2 shots and was 3-of-4 from the line — was pleased to play extended minutes for the first time all season. His previous high was six minutes against UNCW on Nov. 19. In all, he’d played just two minutes overall while entering one of KU’s last five games, a two-minute stint against North Carolina State on Dec. 14.
“I wouldn’t say I’m 100% yet. I think there’s a lot more in the tank for you to see,” Moore said in a postgame chat with KU radio play-by-play announcer Brian Hanni. “We’re working toward it. I’m staying on top of my injury, getting therapy and treatment on it (foot) every day. I think in a week or so I’ll be there.”
Of Sunday’s performance, Moore said: “I definitely started to feel more like myself, getting back in the groove, getting the concept of things. It’s from practice, getting reps in, being able to get back in motion. I think therapy every day still helps, being on top of that. That’s what has me feeling good and healthy.”
Moore tries to bring instant energy to the court when healthy.
“(I give) 110% man. I’m a dog that wants to be everywhere on defense and make plays offensively, just highlight reels. I think when I get back to 100% there’s going to be a lot more to show,” Moore said.
Moore was involved in a highlight-reel play with 1:50 left in Sunday’s game.
Freshman forward Flory Bidunga stole the basketball at 3/4 court and took off with the basketball. He fired a left-handed bounce pass to Moore, who raced in for what could have been a dunk or layup.
Instead, after realizing Bidunga was trailing right on his heels, Moore flipped a shot with his right hand (non-shooting hand) off the backboard to a trailing Bidunga who rammed his fourth dunk of the contest.
It may have looked like a shot. It was a Moore pass that resulted in Bidunga’s eighth point of the game to go with six rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes.
“I knew that run-out I had was pretty clear,” Moore said. “I wasn’t going to lay that ball up. I was going to windmill or something (because) I was feeling good today. I heard Flory at halfcourt. I looked over my shoulder. (He) screamed ‘backboard.’ so I just (decided) I’m going to make an unselfish play. It was great energy at the end, man, it was great.”
Moore was prepared to head home for the Christmas holiday after Sunday’s game. The Jayhawks are off until the night of the 26th when a practice is scheduled.
Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, Moore will spend this Christmas holiday in Houston.
“My mom and my folks moved to Houston a year and a half ago,” Moore said to Hanni. “I’ll spend time with my mom and my brothers, eat some good food.”
He said mom’s specialty is “greens and chicken curry.”
This story was originally published December 23, 2024 at 6:30 AM with the headline "Here’s why Kansas basketball guard Shakeel Moore may wind up in the regular rotation."
