Matthew Moyer made a big decision yesterday and it didn’t have anything to do with anyone named Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Rather, the freshman declared that he will redshirt this season after missing valuable practice time with a toe injury. The setback held last year’s Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year out for an extended amount of time this summer which trickled into the beginning of official practices.
The move makes too much sense for Moyer. Many scouts believe he is a special talent, including ESPN’s Seth Greenberg who tweeted this out yesterday.
He will be a very good player. Size , feel and range. Smart decision. Very mature young man. https://t.co/vbxFBIy4z3
— Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) November 8, 2016
The fact of the matter is that Moyer would have barely cracked the rotation this year, deeming his freshman campaign a waste of a season of eligibility. The forward is a part of a deep frontcourt that will open up starting next season with Dajuan Coleman and Tyler Roberson graduating and Tyler Lydon potentially leaving for the NBA. With at least four other big men ahead of Moyer in the rotation and fellow freshman Taurean Thompson drawing rave reviews from head coach Jim Boeheim, Moyer’s minutes were sure to be limited.
This decision is a smart move for the future. Pending the prospects in the upcoming recruiting class, Moyer can slot himself into the starting five in his “freshman” year.
Out of high school, Moyer was touted for his length, a huge plus given the Orange’s 2-3 defensive scheme. However, freshmen can struggle at times grasping the concept of Boeheim’s zone because it’s not your standard 2-3 defense. The year of practice should help Moyer get his feet under himself before he hits the floor.
While he is not the quickest or most athletic guy on the floor, he’s a smart player who knows how to find the holes in a defense. Moyer will be an essential part for the Orange going forward. With a year of practice under his belt before real game action, the forward will have the experience necessary to slow down the game.
