Connecting Neighbors: Jimmy Moore

Jimmy Moore was born in Leakesville, Mississippi, a small industrial town along the Chickasawhay River with a population of approximately 1,500.

I am the tenth of twelve children born to J. Lin and Dora Moore. There were nine boys and three girls, and we were all blessed with great athletic genes from my father. Neither my mother nor father finished high school, but what they lacked in traditional education, they more than made up for with love and the belief that hard work and dedication would provide a better life for their children (Jimmy Moore, Basketball and Some of Life’s Technical Fouls, 2019).

He came to Utah State University with the promise that basketball could provide him the benefits of a more prosperous life. He excelled at USU, and enjoyed a professional career in the NBA and internationally. He returned to USU dedicated to the proposition that his experience could benefit other student athletes.

In this interview, he shares some of his thoughts and recommendations based on his experiences in Logan, then and now. Interviewed by his son, Jalen, himself a basketball star in high school and college, and also drafted by an NBA team, Jimmy responds to questions about his experiences and thoughts about how a community might endeavor to include persons from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

From the interviewer, Jalen Moore:

I grew up in North Logan and attended grade schools in the community. I went to Sky View High School where I played football, ran track, and played basketball. After my sophomore year I decided to just focus solely on basketball. My senior year we won the state championship in 4A. I was also named 4A MVP in the state of Utah, and made a half-court shot that ended up as number two on ESPN SportsCenter that night.

I graduated from Sky View and attended Utah State University for college basketball. I played as a true freshman and played all four years there. I ended up having a great career, finishing as the top ten scorer of all time and in the top fifteen in several other categories.

After basketball at Utah State I signed a two-way contract to play in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks. It didn’t end up working out for me due to some anxiety issues so I returned home. Upon my return I knew I wanted to still do basketball-related things, so I started a basketball training company with my brother Grayson named Next Level Basketball. That’s what I am still currently doing right now, and really enjoying it!

To contact Jimmy Moore for a speaking engagement, email Carol at [email protected].

Jalen and Jimmy Moore