Q & A: Clifton Moore talks Indiana commitment

  • 10/02/2016 4:40 pm in

Hatboro-Horsham (Pa.) forward Clifton Moore became the third member of Indiana’s 2017 recruiting class when he committed to the Hoosiers on his official visit to Bloomington.

Inside the Hall talked at length with the 6-foot-10 Moore on Sunday afternoon about his decision to commit and a transcript of our full Q & A is available below:

On why he was ready to commit:

“The coaching staff is very experienced and they have a long track record with guys like me. They know how to bring out the best in me. And it’s also great academically. I was comfortable with the environment. I didn’t see anything bad.”

On making the decision while on the visit and the input of his parents on the decision:

“I just got the feeling that I couldn’t see myself anywhere else. And I was like, ‘if this opportunity goes away, I’m going to be really sad, so I’ve got to just take it.'”

On what initially started to increase his interest in Indiana:

“When coach (Tom) Crean came to visit, he was telling me about the Kelley School of Business and how it’s one of the best in the country. That really intrigued my mom. They just won the Big Ten championship and they’ve got great, great history and great coaches who know what they’re doing. It just seemed like a good fit. They showed me how they wanted to use me, how they want to help me and how I fit into the system. It’s a good fit.”

On why he’s been under the radar nationally and whether playing non-shoe circuit for AAU was the primary reason for it:

“I stayed with my local Hoop Dreamz team and I didn’t move to Team Final (Nike EYBL), even though they wanted me. I didn’t go to any of the circuits. That was one of the reasons why. And some people just didn’t know how to use me. When I went to some all-star games, they used me like a traditional big man when my skills are more than that. I’m unique. And coach Crean knows how to bring out the best in me.”

On his relationship with assistant coach Chuck Martin:

“He was the first one that came in. And he said that since he had on the Indiana logo on, when he first came to watch me, he didn’t sit directly in front of the game, he sat on the side and he didn’t tell anybody that he was looking at me. Because he knew that if others knew they’d gotten involved, it would draw more attention to this guy who was relatively unknown. He was there through the summer most of the time.”

On his impressions from watching Indiana practice:

“I saw a bunch of guys who were determined and knew exactly what they were going to do. They want to be the best and they work like it.”

On what else stood out from the visit:

“The football game was cool seeing thehe atmosphere and how they introduced the basketball team. I saw how respected the basketball team is there. When we were going to the game, I was with Thomas Bryant and about seven people wanted to take pictures and were calling his name. I could just see the respect there.”

On his thoughts on the Assembly Hall renovations:

“I liked it. They said it’s going to be the biggest scoreboard in the conference. I liked the whole setup. The locker rooms, too.”



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