Xavier Nation Magazine Feature: The New Kids
Get to know the fresh faces on XU's men's basketball team
Jack Brennan, Xavier Nation Magazine
12/13/2019
Being from Philadelphia, have any impressions you had of Cincinnati changed? I thought Cincinnati wouldn’t be like Philadelphia at all. But it feels kind of similar. Just the downtown and the stores and the way things are laid out, it feels comfortable to me. It’s not something I’ve had to get used to.
Fan of Philly cheesesteaks? Ha ha. I knew a lot of people would think that, but once you’re in Philly for a long time, you start to get tired of it. It’s just not exciting anymore.
Favorite food? It’s got to be macaroni and cheese, the way my mom and dad make it. I couldn’t tell you how they make it, what they put in it or anything like that, but it is great. It’s the best.
Least favorite food? I would have to say beef stew. It doesn’t sound like something you’d hate, I guess, but I just had a bad experience with it one time. I didn’t like the texture. Maybe I’d like it better if I tried it again, but I don’t plan on doing that anytime soon.
Did you root for Philly sports teams as a kid? Oh, you know I did. For sure.
Is your favorite the 76ers? No, they’re OK, but the Eagles have always been No. 1 for me. We won the Super Bowl a few years ago, you know.
College teams you pulled for as a kid? I gotta admit, before I knew I was coming to Xavier, I was a real big Villanova fan. Maybe I shouldn’t let too many people know that, you think? But now that I’m here, I know there’s a big difference between the two and I’m glad I made the choice I did. I’m curing myself of being a ’Nova fan in a hurry.
How much do you know about the Crosstown Shootout? Oh, yeah, the Cincinnati thing. I’m learning about it real fast. It’s fun to think you’re going to be part of one of the biggest things in town. It sounds pretty intense. But I’m from Philly. I’m always up for a battle.
If you could take a trip anywhere, where would it be? I would definitely be on my way to Jamaica. I went there as a kid with my family and just had the greatest time. The thing I remember most is kind of funny. I was in the pool, and it started raining. Everything was great, but in two seconds it started pouring like the kind of storm I had never seen before. I ran back to our room as fast as I could. And then my mom says, “Why are you running in here?” And I looked outside, and it was sunny. It poured like crazy for two minutes, and then it was totally and suddenly over. That just made a real impression on me. I just thought that was so cool.
Academic major? It was going to be business, but I just changed it this summer. I’m changing to communications. I could see myself being a reporter someday.
If you could meet any person outside sports, living or dead, who would you choose? Will Smith. I have a great admiration for him. He’s a tremendous actor and just seems to have it all together. I’d love to talk to him and learn how he makes it all work.
Favorite movie? I Am Legend. Well, not necessarily that, but anything with Will Smith. That was just the first of his movies that came to mind. Besides him, I also really like Four Brothers [about brothers in Detroit who investigate the murder of their adopted mother].
Favorite non-sports hobby? I play a lot of video games. My favorite is probably Fortnite.
Mentor or basketball idol? Definitely Kevin Durant. He’s just great.
How did you end up with two years of eligibility left after graduating from Ohio University? I was at OU for three basketball seasons, but I only used two years of eligibility. I got hurt with a stress fracture in my lower leg as a sophomore, and I had to call it quits. I graduated last summer, the summer after my junior year [with a degree in business management and strategic leadership]. It was a busy summer, real hectic, but now I’m here and going for my MBA.
Why Xavier? I was thinking about staying at OU, but when our coach didn’t get resigned, I decided to open things up and see what was out there. And I ended up liking everything here. Talking to Coach Steele and the staff really swayed me in this direction.
You against Xavier last year… Yeah, we played them here in December. It was a close game until about the 10-minute mark, and then they pulled away and wound up winning by 20. I did all right individually. My efficiency numbers were a little low for my liking, but I had 17 points and a few rebounds. I didn’t have any thoughts at that time about coming here, but when I entered the [transfer] portal I did have the memory of that game. So I knew from personal experience that this is a great program.
Growing up in Johnstown, Ohio, what did you know about Cincinnati? Johnstown is like 30–40 miles northeast of Columbus, but I played a ton of baseball down here when I was younger. And my girlfriend, who I met in high school, has been here a lot, so she’s told me about Cincinnati.
Have you tried Cincinnati chili? I had it once a long time ago, and honestly I did not have a good experience with it. But I’ll be open to trying it again. Obviously everybody here thinks it’s great.
Favorite pro sports teams? This is probably not gonna fly well either, but I’m a Steelers fan.
Favorite movie? Coach Carter with Samuel L. Jackson. When I was younger, I loved watching it the night before a game. It reminds you that school’s important, that setting up for life after basketball is important.
Favorite book? I’m into how money works and how to handle it, so I’m into Dave Ramsey’s books.
Favorite foods? Chicken wings, burgers, and fried chicken.
There are a lot of burgers out there… A lot of good ones, too. The first two that come to mind are the bacon-bacon cheeseburger at Cheesecake Factory, and Five Guys. I really love Five Guys.
Impressions you had about Cincinnati that aren’t proving to be true? It’s not as busy as I thought it would be. Not as much traffic. And that’s a huge plus, because I hate traffic.
How much do you know about the Crosstown Shootout? I know it’s very intense, very big to people around here. I knew about the rivalry as a kid. I watched those games growing up. A lot of expectations are tied to those games.
If you could meet and talk with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? I’d want to meet Jeff Bezos, because of what he’s done with Amazon. He would be so cool to talk to.
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be? I haven’t been a lot of places, but I have great memories of going to Ft. Myers Beach growing up. I would definitely go back there.
Favorite non-sports hobby? I like to fish. I like just generally being around water: boating, tubing, those kinds of activities with family and friends
Favorite movie? Above the Rim with Duane Martin and Tupac Shakur. This guy’s best friend died playing basketball, and he quit basketball himself over that. Someone close to him had a son who was really good at basketball but had done some bad things, and the guy came into the picture to help him. He ended up playing again himself, and he was really good. I just really like the story.
Favorite food? Hot wings. They’ve got really good wings back home [Teaneck, New Jersey].
Do you think they’re as good as the wings in Buffalo? I’ve never been to Buffalo, so I couldn’t tell you about theirs. But I’m telling you, ours taste really good.
Do you like your wings blazing hot? Not like to hurt my mouth. Just spicy enough.
Favorite non-sports hobby? Probably video games. My favorite is Call of Duty.
Academic major? Business. But I couldn’t tell you right now what I plan to do with it. I’ve got some time to figure that out. My only focus right now is just being as good a basketball player as I can be and going as far with that as I can.
Key people in helping your basketball career? I’d have to say my AAU coach, Vince Johnson, and my high school coach, Billy Armstrong. Coach Johnson took a chance on me at the beginning of high school. I was pretty bad back then, but he saw some potential in me. He knew where I grew up, and I was tall at least, and he let me on the team. That just helped me tremendously for high school ball, and Coach Armstrong was there for me every day, helping me make progress. When did you realize you had a future in basketball? Playing at this level and maybe beyond was always my dream growing up, but I didn’t see that I really had a chance until maybe my junior year in high school. I knew by that point that I’d get a chance in college and I said to myself, “Maybe you can make a future out of this.”
Which pro players inspire you the most? LeBron James and Blake Griffin. LeBron because he’s just the greatest player of all time, and Blake Griffin because he’s had some of the most amazing dunks I’ve ever seen.
If you could meet and talk with anyone in history, living or dead, who would you choose? Jesus.
Favorite teams growing up? It’s always been the Knicks, [New York] Giants, and Yankees for me. Probably the Giants most of all, because I watch every single Giants game, and they’ve won Super Bowls with me watching. The Yankees have won it all, too, but I’m not nearly as big on baseball as football. The Knicks have been terrible lately, so they’re not as much fun to watch right now.
Where would you go for a free vacation? Somewhere tropical.
Growing up in Walton, did you identify more with Cincinnati or Lexington? I’m really more oriented toward Lexington. Cincinnati is pretty close, obviously, and I’ve been through Cincinnati, but we never did a lot here. I’m more a Lexington type of guy.
Were you a Kentucky basketball fan as a kid? Actually, my dad and I were North Carolina fans. But the rest of my family was all UK.
Did you follow any pro sports teams as a kid? I’m not that big a fan of teams. I’m more into following players. I really like Anthony Davis, so now that he’s on the Lakers I guess I’m a Lakers fan.
Favorite non-sports hobby? I love watching wrestling, the WWE. I’m a gigantic fan. I started watching it as a kid, and I’ve never gotten away from it. It’s just really entertaining, the story lines and the characters. It keeps growing on me.
If you were offered a free vacation, where would you go? Miami. I’ve never been there, but I know there’s a lot that goes on there—a lot of different stuff, a lot of different types of people. It seems like a very interesting place.
Favorite movie? Uncle Drew, the basketball movie about the guy who rounds up the all-star team of old guys. The one with all the NBA players in it: Kyrie Irving, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Reggie Miller.
Favorite food? Hot dogs, cheese coneys. I’ve eaten Skyline and Gold Star a lot since I was a kid.
How much do you know about the Crosstown Shootout? I know it’s been a big thing here, the battle to see who has the better program. But I only started to really know about it when I was being recruited by XU. Then it all made sense to me. I’m very excited to compete in it. I know there will be a lot of people watching.
If you could meet and talk with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose? A pro basketball player. No one specifically, just someone who would really talk to me about the pro game. What it’s like to be a professional. When you go to the next level of competition, how do you prepare, how do you do things on and off the court?
Why Xavier? It’s a good program and a good school, and I like the aspect of it being really close to home. It’s 30 minutes away, and everything I need is right here. What would you like to do when your playing career is over? I’d like to stay in sports, and I could see myself doing a lot of things. Sports management, trainer, coach… there are plenty of options.
Do any of your past coaches stand out for helping your career? I’d have to say my AAU coach, Chris Grubbs. He’s my best friend’s dad, and he’s all about getting better, all about us improving and getting to the next level. He led the way in a lot of fund-raising in the community for us. He tells you to never let anybody take anything away from you and that everything you get has to be earned.
What else would you like Xavier fans to know about you? I hope our fans will come to know me as just a good kid, a good person. I like to be around people.
How did you end up at Xavier after playing and graduating from Western Michigan? Trevon Bluiett and I played together in high school [in Indianapolis], so I followed XU when he played here. I would also come here and work out with him at the practice facility. So it was just a natural place for me to consider after I got my degree with some eligibility left. I liked the winning culture here, and Coach Steele just kind of sealed the deal. I could tell he was a coach I’d really like to play for. And now I’m going for my master’s in accounting.
What do you know about the Crosstown Shootout? Over the years, I watched it more than a few times on TV. Besides having played with Trevon, I also remember watching Dee Davis and Tu Holloway in those games. I was always rooting for Xavier. It’s competitive, a great atmosphere.
Career plans beyond basketball? I want to get into real estate and own my own business.
Favorite non-sports hobby? I play the tenor sax. I have a Jeep, and I like to sit out in back of the Jeep and just play. I got into it in high school. We had to take a fine arts class, and I thought it would be cool to learn that and be able to play a lot of different music.
Favorite book? As a Man Thinketh by James Allen. It’s about the power of thought. I also like Rise and Grind by Daymond John. That’s a good book for teaching yourself good habits. Get up and get things done. Form a commitment to what you want to do in life.
Favorite food? I like sushi, but it has to be cooked. I really like Japanese food overall.
Do you know about Cincinnati chili? Skyline? I’ve had it in the past. They have a few spots in Indy. I like it.
If you could meet and talk with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Denzel Washington. I’d like to know how he became such a great actor, and beyond the acting, he’s inspirational to me. He’s done a lot of speeches I’ve watched. He inspires you to keep going no matter what you’re facing. He tells you that if you persevere, really stick with it, you may fail sometimes but you’ll win at many things in the end.
Sports teams you’ve pulled for? In basketball, the [Oklahoma City] Thunder when [Russell] Westbrook and Kevin Durant were there. Also, the [San Antonio] Spurs. It’s just the way they play, and I like Coach [Gregg] Popovich. I like his interviews. Nice and short. In football, the New York Giants. My dad [Eric Moore] played on the offensive line for them. He played one year for the Bengals, too [1994], but most of his time was with the Giants.
Toughest moment in your basketball career? My junior year at Western Michigan, I played on a torn ACL. We didn’t know it was torn right away, but as I tried to play, my knee kept giving out. There was a lot to deal with due to that, but I wanted to show I could play through anything and keep giving it my all.
Tell us about your hometown, Cordele. It’s in southwest Georgia, about an hour from Florida. Atlanta is about three hours away, so my family always felt more of a pull from Florida. It’s easier to get down to some of the bigger Florida cities than it is to Atlanta, and we took a lot of family vacations there.
If you could meet and talk with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose? For a non-athlete, Martin Luther King. He wanted equality for all people, and in my opinion he did most things the right way. From what I’ve read, he was a great family man and a great person, the kind of person I want to try to be off the court.
Has living in Cincinnati changed any impressions of the city you had before you came? Every time I think of a big city, I think of Atlanta’s downtown. Cincinnati’s downtown isn’t like Atlanta—I thought it would be bigger, but that’s kind of a good thing. Atlanta can get a little overwhelming. Cincinnati is not too small. It has a nice downtown feel, and there are nice areas around downtown.
Favorite pro teams? My brother [OL Andre Ramsey] played in the NFL, and his first team was the Seahawks, and ever since then, when I was 11 or 12, the Seahawks have been my favorite team. I also like the Falcons, and in basketball I like whatever team Kevin Durant plays for.
Kevin Durant clearly has a lot of fans among young players. Why are you among them? Most NBA players are built really strong, like grown men. But he still looks like more of a long, skinny tall kid, and that’s how I have seen myself. And he’s the best player in the game. So versatile, he can do everything on the court. I try to pattern my game after him.
When did you fully realize you had a chance to play major college basketball? Until my sophomore year [of high school], I played basketball just for fun. My first love was football, and basketball was just a hobby. But in my sophomore year I started getting taller, outgrowing football a little bit. Basketball started becoming my thing, and when I worked hard and started getting better, that’s when I fell in love with it and started thinking about the future.
Favorite movie? That’s an easy one for me. The Blind Side [about the football player Michael Oher]. He was homeless but wound up playing at Ole Miss and then in the NFL. Great story. I love anything sports, and it inspired me.
Favorite things to do as a kid, beside sports? I liked to read, and when I was 9 or 10 I really liked the Captain Underpants series. It was a comic-strip type of book, and anytime a new one came out, I had to get it. The jokes were just really funny. Later, when I was a little older, I liked the Harry Potter books.
Favorite food? I love pizza. Meat Lovers at Pizza Hut is the best. A lot of people think Pizza Hut is kind of old school, but I can eat Pizza Hut a lot. For home-cooked food, I like spaghetti.
Have you tried Cincinnati chili? I had it pretty soon after I got here. Everyone was making a big deal out of it. I’m a big food guy, and it’s good, but I have to say it doesn’t taste all that different from chili I’ve eaten in Georgia. Maybe a little sweeter. But I love chili, and I’ll have it again.
How much do you know about the Crosstown Shootout? I didn’t really start watching Xavier basketball until this last season. I was more into the NBA. But after watching the game last year, I actually did some digging into the whole history of it. I know it’s a whole-city rivalry, two crazy fan bases that love basketball. It seems like a fun game to play, high intensity from the coaches down to the players to the fans. That’s the game I definitely have circled.
When did you first start thinking about playing college basketball? I’d say when I was in ninth grade. I was playing some games with the varsity, and it came to me: If I take this more seriously, I can really do something with it. Before that in basketball, I was just playing to have fun. But when you get to high school, it starts to become a business. People are paying to watch you, so you can’t waste their time and money just for you to have a good time. So I’ve taken every game seriously from that point on.
Were you a Kentucky basketball fan as a kid? Yes. I was born there and, you know, just about everybody in Kentucky likes UK basketball. But I’m in a different mindset now, of course. Coming to Xavier was an easy decision. I liked it here way more than anywhere else that recruited me. I like the way our campus is laid out. You can walk where you need to go. I don’t like going very far, so it’s just perfect for me. It’s also fairly relaxed and quiet, and I’m not a big party guy.
If you could meet and talk with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose? Gilbert Arenas. You probably won’t hear that one from a lot of people, but he played the game the way I think I can play it, and what he went through inspires me some. He was a great player, an NBA all-star, but he admits he did some dumb stuff that made his career go down. [Arenas was suspended for the 2009–2010 NBA season for handgun violations and related offenses.] He came back from it, though. He did what he had to do to get back on track. I admire people who can learn from their missteps.
Favorite food? Burgers. Nothing fancy, just regular burgers. Wendy’s is probably my favorite. I don’t like McDonald’s all that much. Burger King is good, but they just don’t have the taste of Wendy’s.
If you were offered a free trip, where would you go? Florida. I’ve never been there, and I’d really like to go.
Academic major? Business. I’m not sure exactly what I’ll want to do with it, but I’ve got time to figure it out.
What do you know about the Crosstown Shootout? I know a lot about it. I think it’s one of the most underrated games in the country. It seems like I’ve always known about that game, even though I was down in Kentucky. Playing in that game is one of the things I’m looking most forward to here.
