Hailing from Greensboro, North Carolina, a town known for producing basketball talent like Danny Manning, P.J. Hairston, Bobby Jones, and more, there’s no doubt Shakeel ‘Shak’ Moore’s early exposure to basketball made him the skilled athlete he is today. Now playing for the Kansas Jayhawks, the fifth-year senior aims to impress the NBA scouts and solidify his position in the upcoming draft. 

With the NBA draft on the horizon, his setbacks from previous seasons, including injuries and team dynamics, put him under pressure. This season will be the most crucial for him. But before that, let’s take a look at the numbers. 

Stats, NIL, and college transfer

Jayhawks’ #0 journey in high school was at Piedmont Classical. Moravian Prep helped build his reputation as a four-star recruit, catching the eyes of top-tier college programs. His senior year at Moravian Prep saw him average over 20 points per game, with standout rebounding, assists, and a knack for nailing three-pointers. 

As a versatile player, particularly known for his defensive skills, he secured positions in Division I teams. Starting his college career at NC State, Shak averaged 6.8 points and 1.4 steals per game as a freshman before transferring to Mississippi State. 

Across 124 games, primarily with Mississippi State, the 6’1 guard scored 1,042 points, adding 336 rebounds, 250 assists, and 170 steals to his stat line. His field goal accuracy is 42.4%, three-point shooting at 31.2%, and free-throw shooting around 70.7%. 

At Mississippi State in the 2023-24 season, he started 22 of 33 games. Throughout his junior year, he landed on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. However, when the opportunity arose in 2024, he transferred to Kansas. After all, joining a program with a rich legacy made sense. 

His decision was influenced by his relationship with coach Joe Dooley, who had recruited him initially in 2018. “I heard (from KU) and didn’t respond too much at first, but then again I did because of the relationship I had with coach Dooley. Me and coach Dooley go way back to 2018. He was one of the first coaches to recruit me,” he said. 

“That relationship has been there always. I’m big on relationships. With coach Dooley and Self it was going to be a good year for me to head out here and finish.” And obviously, his amazing college career reflects the influence of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era. 

As he leveraged the transfer portal to find the best fit, NIL opportunities grew. However, the details are not known yet. According to College Net Worth, his Net worth is estimated at around $100,000 to $150,000. 

Amidst it all, the hooper has had his fair share of setbacks. For instance, a recent foot injury in a pickup game that had sidelined him for up to eight weeks, leaving his season debut uncertain. Thankfully, Shak sees these downs as simply part of the journey. 

Shakeel Moore: Rising strong despite setbacks

As he waits and works through rehabilitation, he’s not giving up. “It is disappointing,” he shared, “but I had guys around me who were uplifting me. I knew I was a strong healer and that I’d come back in better shape.” It also reminds him of the same injury he had back in school. 

But this time, he has taken to heart the support he’s found at Kansas, especially from teammates and Coach Bill Self, who described Moore as potentially “our best on-the-ball defender.” Since arriving in Kansas, the 23-year-old has been deeply touched by the emphasis on team unity. 

The Jayhawks engage in “culture meetings” where the team discusses ways to grow stronger, mentally and emotionally, fostering bonds that extend beyond the court. “We all get together and talk about things that make our team stronger mentally,” Moore shared. 

“Those days uplift us, and I’m big on relationships. They bring coaches closer to the guys and guys to coaches.” Most of it, he gets from his roots. His parents instilled in him not only a love for basketball but also a commitment to education.

The Interdisciplinary Studies graduate once shared on social media, “This is a big accomplishment for me. Earning this degree means everything to me since I am the first to do it within my family. It is a big accomplishment for my family.”

“Mississippi State has prepared me to grow into adulthood early. I have been 10 hours away from my family, and being here has allowed me to grow into the man I am today,” he added. As the former State player looks toward his future in the NBA, let us see if he can keep the Greensboro legacy alive.