This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
After winning its first boys' basketball championship since 1994, Sky View is likely to be celebrating for a while.
So are Utah State basketball fans, who are more thrilled that ever to have 6-foot-8 forward Jalen Moore coming to campus next season. The senior definitely raised his profile among local fans and national observers, even getting on ESPN (above) after a game-winning buzzer-beater in overtime against Bountiful and fellow future Aggie Sam Merrill.
While helping lead the Bobcats to the Class 4A state title, Moore averaged 19.5 points, 7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. His dunks and blocks provided some of the most thrilling moments of the tournament.
Aggies fans have been thrust into the clouds by his performance this week. A random sampling of tweets about the Smithfield star who has signed with Utah State:
• Very excited for Jalen Moore and Sam Merrill to join the Aggies in the coming years. They are legit! - @usustats
• Jalen Moore will finish his career as state champion. Next up? #MWC champion.- @utahstizzle
• Jalen Moore, the Utah State commit, grew up this week...went from talent to superstar - @tjonessltrib
Even Stew Morrill got in on the excitement of Moore after a loss to UT-Arlington on Saturday.
"Congrats to Sky view, congrats to Jalen," he said. "He's a future Aggie, and we're just tickled for him and for Sky View. The Valley did really well. I know Mountain Crest is disappointed, but they had a great season."
If you're not done reliving Moore's performance and Sky View's run in the state tournament this past week, check out these links:
• Moore scores 28 against Timpview in the first round.
• The Bobcats get by a second-round test from Olympus.
• Moore's buzzer-beater is the difference in an overtime battle against Bountiful (Sam Merrill also scored 35 points in this game, definitely giving his all — my nominee for best game of the tourney).
• Sky View edges rival Mountain Crest for the title.
Moore should probably take some time to bask in the victory — expectations continue to rise for the Utah State signee.
— Kyle Goon
Twitter: @kylegoon