KU’s Charlie Moore a steady second PG option for USA squad

The second consecutive summer Italian tour for Kansas point guard Charlie Moore is nearing its end, and the KU sophomore has delivered a mixed bag of results thus far.

Moore, in three games for the USA East Coast squad coached by Larry Brown, is averaging just over seven points per game in about 17 minutes per night and the USA team carries a 1-2 record into its Tuesday finale.

After picking up its first win versus the Netherlands on Sunday, the USA team will take today off to do a little sightseeing in Venice before tipping off at 11 a.m. Tuesday in its final test before returning to the United States on Wednesday.

Moore’s best game of the three so far came in Team USA’s worst loss, a 100-77 setback at the hands of the Italians in Game 2.

The 5-foot-11 point guard from Chicago who will compete with freshman Devon Dotson for KU’s starting point guard role this season, scored 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting (2 of 5 from 3-point range) and added four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 17 minutes.

That game featured much more offensive production from Moore than either of the other two. In the opener, a 77-67 loss to Germany, Moore, who is wearing jersey No. 1 in Italy, scored 6 points and grabbed two rebounds, three assists and a steal.

In Team USA’s most recent game, a 61-55 victory over the Netherlands, Moore scored just one point and shot 0 of 7 from the floor but added four rebounds and a team-best six assists.

It’s just a summer exhibition series and the competition — both on the opposing bench and on his own team — is a far cry from what Moore will experience during the coming months with Kansas, but the Team USA experience could be a preview of things to come for the Chicago native.

Coming off of the bench for the USA squad, Moore appears to have provided a steady second option at the point, running the team with a get-others-involved mentality and scoring when necessary. When in the game, he looked to push the pace whenever possible and almost always has looked pass-first.

If Dotson turns out to be the elite player and top-tier college guard that many project, Moore could find himself playing a role for the Jayhawks during the 2018-19 season that is similar to what he has done for Brown and Team USA this month.

From watching a little game film, Moore also appears to have turned things up a notch defensively, harassing opposing ball-handlers whenever possible and picking up as soon as the opponent’s primary point guard crosses halfcourt. That skill that, if executed well, will go a long way toward making sure he gets minutes for Self this winter.

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