Warrior selects Terps with year to go
Published 3:10 pm Saturday, July 23, 2011
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Scholarship: Nansemond River rising senior Kyle Moore, here with his Canes Baseball select team during a tournament in Newport News on Friday, verbally committed to a baseball scholarship at the University of Maryland on Thursday. Moore, who also plays football and basketball for the Warriors, made his choice among the Terps, N.C. State and Liberty.
Kyle Moore’s got one more year of baseball, along with football and basketball, heading into his senior year at Nansemond River.
On Thursday, Moore decided to continue playing baseball beyond his Warrior career and at the ACC level, verbally committing to a scholarship offer from Maryland.
On Friday, there was no celebration or rest after Moore’s accomplishment. Instead, there was playing leftfield in 100-plus degree mid-afternoon heat with a Canes Baseball select squad in a showcase tournament at Christopher Newport.
“I was planning on committing around this time,” Moore said about making his decision prior to his senior year.
“My parents and I stayed up countless nights working out where I’d be going and Maryland is the place that feels the best,” Moore said.
Moore’s made visits to College Park, Md. since last summer. The Terrapin coaches scouted Moore in person during Canes tournaments as Moore’s been on Cane teams since his freshman year.
“They’ve watched me with the Canes during the last two years, so I think they’ve seen a lot of what I can do,” Moore said.
“The coaching staff is outstanding. They’ve made me feel like I’m already part of the family. I’m already comfortable there and comfortable with everything about the team,” Moore said.
It’s been a multi-year stretch of college recruiting trips, discussions and decisions for the Moore family. Ashton Moore, Kyle’s older brother, graduated from Nansemond River in June and is going to The Citadel on a basketball scholarship.
Kyle chose Maryland in a final cut over North Carolina St. and Liberty.
“It felt like the best place because the program is an underdog right now in the ACC, but with new coaches and a couple top recruiting classes, it’s exciting to become part of turning the program around,” Moore said.
Maryland went 21-35 overall in 2011 but 5-25 in the ACC. Erik Bakich is going into his third season as head coach.
“(The coaching staff) has a vision for the program and they’ve shown me they want me to be part of something special,” Moore said.
Moore’s an outfielder for the Warriors and Canes. He had a first-team All-State (VHSL Group AAA) season as the Warriors reached the state tournament and won the Southeastern District Tournament this spring.
Moore‘s love for one of his other sports helped the Terps out a little. “This past winter I got to go to a basketball game there and that made me like the campus and everything even more,” he said.
Baseball is his true love though, as evidenced by going through seasons with the Canes for three years now.
“It’s every weekend, basically all through the summer and fall, but it’s fun, Moore said. “If it’s what you want to do, if you have passion for it, you have to love it. I’d play every day if I could.”