HAMILTON, N.Y. (11/11/09)– The Colgate University men’s basketball program has received commitments from two student-athletes to join the Raiders for the 2010-11 season. Both players signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period.
Pat Moore, a 6-5 wingman from Whitesboro, N.Y. and
Chad Johnson, a 6-3 combo-guard from Atlanta, Ga. will join the Raiders. Head Coach
Emmett Davis had this to say about his two new recruits, “We are delighted that Pat Moore and Chad Johnson have decided to join our Colgate Basketball family. Both Pat and Chad are outstanding young men, committed and talented players, and outstanding students. In a word they are winners! We expect them to make significant contributions to our program during their four years at Colgate.”
Moore enters his senior season at Utica Notre Dame eighth on the Jugglers’ all-time scoring list with 1,082 points. As a junior, Moore averaged 22.6 ppg and 8.4 rpg to help lead Notre Dame to its fifth consecutive Tri-Valley League East Division Title and a 19-5 overall record. Moore was also a Class A fifth team all-state selection and third team All Central NY by the Post Standard.
Last season during the Christmas tournament in Brooklyn, Moore broke a 33 year-old single-game scoring record when he scored 48 points in a win over Roosevelt, a Class A school from New York City area.
Moore joins Colgate sophomore, Brett Marfurt, another former Albany City Rocks player on the Colgate roster. Jim Hart, the Albany City Rocks AAU coach had this to say “It’s close enough so his family can go see him play a lot,” Hart stated. “And the reputation of Colgate as a great academic school was important to him in making the decision.”
Moore received early interest from at least one Big East School and received recruitment and offers from multiple programs in Atlantic 10, MAAC, Ivy League, Patriot League and NEC.
“I think Colgate is a perfect fit for him,” Notre Dame coach Mike Durr said. “I think he can play right away and make an impact. He’s versatile, he can play the two or the three, he defends well at those spots and he’s a great athlete.”
“Pat has been on our recruiting radar for quite some time,” stated Davis. “He attended our prospect camp when he was a sophomore and being from nearby Utica, Notre Dame, he has been on campus numerous times playing pick-up basketball with our players. I know Pat was very comfortable with our program and the prestigious educational opportunity here at Colgate.”
As a junior, Johnson averaged 12.0 ppg, 4.0 apg, 6.0 rpg and 1.5 steals to help lead Westake high school to a 22-7 record and Georgia High School AAAA Final four appearance. Johnson was selected to Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Scholar-Athlete and named “Mr. Magnet” during homecoming celebration to represent elite Westlake Magnet School program. Johnson also participated in the 2009 Georgia Tech Summer Engineering Program.
“Our recruitment of Chad was much more recent, but no less enthusiastic,” stated coach Davis. “After seeing Chad in an open gym this fall and then developing a relationship with he and his mother, we realized that Chad was special. Not only is Chad an excellent player and student, it was his passion, non-stop motor and personality that really sold us on Chad.”
Johnson received interest from at least one school in both the Pac 10 and Big East as well as recruitment and offers from Programs in the Colonial, Southern, MAC, MAAC, Patriot League, Conference USA and Atlantic Sun Conferences.
“Chad is a combo guard with a football free safety look & demeanor and the nickname, Junkyard Dog,” said Davis. “His leadership and team first attitude will be of great value as will his offensive skills. Chad is an excellent defender who can guard 1 through 3 on the court, and he comes from a winning program coached by one of metro Atlanta’s most respected mentors, Darron Rogers. Chad’s high school team, Westlake, is a favorite to win the Georgia State Title. With multiple Division I players, they also received a pre-season #21 national ranking.”
The Raiders open the season this Thursday, Nov. 12 with an exhibition game against Medaille College at 7 p.m. The Raiders start regular season play on Monday, Nov. 16 at the 2009 Dicks Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off against Connecticut, the game will be televised on ESPNU at 9 p.m.
Chad Johnson Highlight Clip