Butte standouts moving on: Shawn Moore

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Shawn Moore, a Pleasant Valley High grad, chose a different path. The reigning GVC's Most Valuable Player passed up offers from smaller schools for a chance to walk-on at UC Santa Barbara.

Moore had offers from schools such as Lewis and Clark, Pacific (Ore.) and some schools in the Midwest region and some schools back east, Butte men's basketball coach Russ Critchfield said.

The Roadrunners coach added Moore has a good chance of becoming a player for the Gauchos.
"They're going to give him a good look down there. They had an interest. They liked him on film," Critchfield said. "He's accepted, and he's going to try to take down a spot. He chose the challenge."

Of course, by walking on, Moore won't have anything handed to him.

"No guarantees," Critchfield said, "but I wouldn't bet against him."

Butte's opponents wouldn't either most likely. The nearly 6-foot-5, 210-pound player came on strong in conference play as he earned MVP honors. He led Butte, which went 9-1 in GVC play, in several categories including conference scoring.

"He was getting more aggressive on offense, looking to score," Critchfield explained. "After Christmas, we sat down and talked.  He had to step up and almost be a little more selfish."

One of the traits that the Gauchos liked about Moore is his versatility, Critchfield said. 

Moore can contribute on both ends of the floor, where he can play as both a perimeter player with a medium-range game or inside as his knack for getting rebounds and drawing contact comes in handy.  His defensive assignments were also just as varied sometimes guarding bigger players.

"He really improved as he gained more confidence," Critchfield said.