Mr. Basketball is back on the market.
Morgan Park point guard Charlie Moore, the No. 1 recruit in the state’s senior class and the 2015-16 Mr. Basketball of Illinois winner, has reopened his recruitment after Memphis coach Josh Pastner decided to leave for Georgia Tech.
Moore said he is both excited and saddened by the development.
“He had to do what he had to do, so I’m back to square one,” Moore said. “He had to do what is best for him and his family, so I can’t complain. I’m just taking it in stride. I don’t have a time frame yet.”
The 6-foot Moore announced his decision to attend Memphis in a news conference Nov. 12, but he did not sign a national letter of intent that day.
Moore signed four days later when Memphis added a clause to the contract that would let him out of it in the event of a coaching change.
Schools cannot contact Moore until he receives his official release, but that appears to be a mere formality.
“My mom just got a call from the A.D. (Tom Bowen),” Moore said. “I should be cleared soon. In the contract it says that if Josh Pastner leaves, I get an automatic out.”
Moore was under the radar nationally until he outplayed some of the best point guards in the country on the AAU circuit last summer. He backed it up by averaging 28 points and seven assists in a sensational senior season.
He drew numerous scholarship offers before ultimately choosing Memphis over California and VCU, and Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin expects numerous suitors once Moore’s release is official.
The late signing period runs from April 13 to May 18. Moore said he is wide open as the process begins anew.
Illinois was right in the mix originally before landing another class of 2016 point guard, Te’Jon Lucas, of Milwaukee.
“Illinois is the home-state school,” Moore said. “I would still be interested in those guys.”
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Moore said the opportunity for early playing time will be a big factor in his decision.
“He doesn’t care what conference, he doesn’t care where it is,” Irvin said. “He wants the ball in his hands from day one like it was going to be when he decided on Memphis.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter.