Moore, Thompson among OC recruiting class

Klahowya graduate Andre Moore Jr. and Central Kitsap graduate Isaiah Thompson are headed to Olympic College to play basketball.

Klahowya graduate Andre Moore Jr. and Central Kitsap graduate Isaiah Thompson are headed to Olympic College to play basketball.

The duo is among a 10-player OC recruiting class that also includes Bremerton forward Josh Koets.

Moore, a guard who finished his career as Klahowya’s all-time scoring leader with more than 1,000 points, averaged 24.1 points per game his senior year. A soft-spoken player who distributes the ball while also scoring, Moore figures to make an immediate impact on the Rangers’ lineup.

“He brought a complete game to the court,” said Klahowya basketball coach Spike Hopper. “He was strong offensively and defensively and he could run the break.”

Thompson, meanwhile, is a versatile player who CK coach Scott McMinds said “loves to get up and down the floor.”

The Rangers, who play an uptempo pace, figure to bring Thompson off the bench, using his speed and athleticism to ignite the squad.

“He has the ability to knock down the jumper,” said McMinds, who recently completed his first season at CK after eight years at Klahowya. “He’s a fun player to watch, he’s explosive. He’s yet to reach his potential, which is probably the most exciting thing.”

OC finished the 2008-09 season 21-8 and took home a seventh-place finish at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Collges Tournament.

Last year’s team included nine sophomores, all of whom are gone, meaning the recent commits will get a chance to play right away.

Moore, who also contemplated playing football in college, will be looked to for both scoring and distributing.

Hopper said he believes Moore is capable of playing Division II or III basketball if he has a strong showing next season at OC.

“I think he’s going to play (community college) ball very well,” Hopper said. “He’s capable of playing at the Division II level because he elevates his game based on the competition around him.”