By Navin Sunjay Krishnan (@NavinKthespear) – Opinions Columnist
San Jose State junior guard Omari Moore is one of SJSU’s top Spartan sports icons of the past decade.
Moore has the uncanny ability to elevate his game.
It was in high school where he made a jump going from averaging 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game to 20.0 points and 6.0 assists per game in Los Angeles at Middlebrooks Academy.
In his first year as a Division I player at SJSU, Moore put up 4.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Moore’s sophomore season was electric as he led the team on the boards with 5.3 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game.
Though his heart and determination were clear through his improvement.
SJSU head coach Tim Miles saw an aura more unique in Moore than anyone who has ever laced it up for the Spartans.
With Miles at the helm, Moore’s playing time exploded to a massive 34.6 minutes per game and he started 29 of 30 games played.
The star guard clinched his first triple-double and did it in a win against the New Mexico Lobos and nearly led the Spartans to their first Mountain West tournament victory.
He increased his average from beyond the 3-point line from 25% to an astonishing 42.9%.
“With Omari, when you look at him individually, about his growth and development as a player, not only with his basketball career. He’s got a big semester academically,” said Miles.
Moore has something no other Spartan has shown as a superstar — ultimate confidence.
“[Moore] has the chance to be a professional. Not only in pro basketball in Europe … he’s got a chance to make the NBA,” said Miles. “He’s really got a chance to be a dynamic player and difference-maker.”
Moore’s versatility strikes scouts beyond just one dimension. Moore’s defensive prowess is bundled with his toughness, never-quit attitude and his invaluable versatility.
At the pro level, many players seem to defer or become ‘specialists.’
The SJSU captain has a chance to be a multidimensional player.
Moore’s instincts not only propel his game, but his alpha-dog leader mentality boosts his team’s morale and intimidate his opponents.
“I think one thing about me is I think I can do a little bit of everything. I think I can guard, I can score a little bit, I can create for others. So I think at the next level’s going to be a lot of setting up offense, defending, getting to the basket, creating for my teammates,” said Moore.
Moore will leave SJSU as a basketball hero, and just as every other NBA prospect, he will have to go through a learning curve and start his professional career from the grassroots fundamentals he learned in college.
Spartan fans should embrace Moore this upcoming season, just as he embraced the challenge of basketball year after year.
“These last few years have been big for me … not just on the court, but also off the court as well. Mentally, I think I’ve grown a lot, I’ve become a lot more confident and level-headed. That’s come from my coaches and teammates relying on me,” Moore said. “Just installing different confidence in me.”
His story may change dramatically over the years in the NBA as his repertoire and reputation grows.
His shoes may never be filled, but he will always be a Spartan.