KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee basketball coach Cuonzo Martin announced Wednesday that Armani Moore, a versatile guard from Kennesaw, Ga., has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Tennessee and play for the Volunteers beginning with the 2012-13 season. Moore plans to enroll at UT for summer classes.
A 6-5 prospect who can play all three positions along the perimeter, Moore will graduate from Mt. Paran Christian School where he is coached by Scott Varner. Moore led the Eagles to a 24-6 record and the second round of the Class A state playoffs as a senior this past season. He was selected as a first-team All-State honoree by the Georgia Sports Writers Association after averaging 22 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.9 blocks and 2.6 steals per game.
Varner said that Moore shot close to 40 percent from 3-point range during his final prep season and that he believes Moore is the first student-athlete from MPCS to receive a Division I basketball scholarship. The school opened in 1976.
“Armani is another high-character young man whose versatility will make him an asset to our team,” Martin said. “He played every position in high school, so he has the tools to do whatever it takes to help his team be successful. He’ll be a great addition our program.”
Moore said his faith and his relationship with Martin were keys to him choosing UT.
“I chose Tennessee because I truly believe that is the place God wants me to be,” Moore said. “And I like that coach Martin is a firm and bold coach. I’m confident he can help me take my game to the next level.”
Moore attended Swainsboro High School as a freshman, sophomore and junior before transferring to Mt. Paran Christian.
He joins fellow UT signing crop members D’Montre Edwards and Derek Reese, each of whom signed with the Vols last November. Moore’s enrollment will give Tennessee four players from the state of Georgia, as he joins Trae Golden (Powder Springs), Kenny Hall (Stone Mountain) and Jordan McRae (Midway).
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)