Greg Vanderjagt
July 23, 2020
Derek Moore
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 21/02/75
- Place of Birth: Sydney (NSW)
- Position: F/C
- Height (CM): 206
- Weight (KG): 102
- Junior Assoc: NSW - Parramatta
- College: South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken) (1995–1999)
- NBL DEBUT: 2/10/99
- AGE AT DEBUT: 24
- LAST NBL GAME: 10/12/04
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 29
- NBL History: Sydney 2000-02 | Adelaide 2004 | Townsville 2005
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Derek Moore was born in Sydney (NSW) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Parramatta basketball program.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Derek Moore made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 24 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
Sydney underwent a familiar narrative during the 1999/00 season. One that began with compiling a impressive roster on paper to start the season, only to see it fall apart (like a violet crumble) by the end of the year. Expectations were high with the continued development of Sydney underwent a familiar narrative during the 1999/00 season. One that began with compiling a impressive roster on paper to start the season, only to see it fall apart (like a violet crumble) by the end of the year. It started with a coaching change, Brett Brown replacing Bill Tomlinson (the team’s fourth coach in six seasons). Then, with Sydney seemingly stockpiling much of the league’s best young talent, adding Ben Melmeth (Newcastle) and Moore (South Carolina-Aiken University) and to the talented young core of Matthew Nielsen, Aaron Trahair and Scott McGregor, re-signing one of the most dominant big men in NBL history, Acie Earl and poaching the reigning league MVP, Steve Woodberry from the Brisbane Bullets expectations were high.
The Kings started the year with a 98–76 win over Canberra, but it was clear Earl’s fitness wasn’t where it was the previous season. He managed 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists and was released before their next game. Meanwhile, Kevin Brooks who had just led Adelaide to back-to-back championships. Brooks’s signing was unusual, with Adelaide signing him to a contract which the league determined it would not approve, claiming it would put the club over the salary cap considering it also had added Paul Maley to its championship unit only a few weeks earlier. Brooks found himself without a team to play for until the Kings contacted him and signed him as Earl’s replacement.
After a mediocre start to the season (2-2), import Steve Woodberry suffered a season ending injury forcing the Kings to find a replacement for him also. This came in the form of NBA talent Drew Barry who was also the son of NBA legend Rick Barry.
The Kings went 6-5 with Barry (7.6 points, 4 rebounds and 6.3 assists) but with his production not being anywhere near where they expected for a NBA level point guard, he too received the axe and was replaced with Kendrick Johnson.
From here, Johnson (21.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists) led the team in scoring, alongside Brooks (16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists) and Nielsen (16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists) and the team finished their season with a record of 11-17. Moore averaged 9.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists as the Kings missed the playoffs for the fourth season in a row.
One of the few bright spots for the Kings roller-coaster season was the development of Derek Moore (9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds) who was named Rookie of the Year at season’s end.
2000/01
In 2000/01, Moore averaged 10.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, playing a key role in the Kings rotation, helping the team finish in a fifth place (17-11).
2001/02
The 2001/02 season saw Moore average 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 0.5 assists and play a key role in helping the Kings to a eighth place finish in the regular season with a 14-16record.
ADELAIDE 36ERS
2003/04
During the 2003/04 season, Moore averaged 5.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.7 assists and was a part of the 36ers squad which finished in eighth place with a record of 14-19.
TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES
2004/05After spending the previous season with the Adelaide 36ers, American centre Derek Moore joined the Townsville Crocodiles as part of a major roster overhaul ahead of the 2004/05 NBL season. Following a disappointing 2003/04 campaign in which Townsville cycled through multiple imports and failed to establish a consistent core, head coach Ian Stacker reshaped the team’s identity. Key exits included Andrew Goodwin (retired), Peter Crawford (to Perth), and Mike Kelly (to Wollongong). In their place came Robert Brown and Casey Calvary as the new import duo, John Rillie (via West Sydney), rookie sensation Brad Newley, and Moore, who provided a defensive anchor in the frontcourt rotation.
The revamped Crocs climbed to a 19–13 record and finished third on the ladder. Led by a balanced core of John Rillie (18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists), Casey Calvary (17.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks), Robert Brown (16.9 points, 6.5 rebounds), and breakout rookie Brad Newley (16.0 points, 3.3 rebounds), Townsville became one of the league’s top-performing teams. Veteran Robert Rose (12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists) and Kelvin Robertson (10.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) rounded out a deep and versatile rotation, while Moore’s presence solidified the second unit’s interior defense.
Moore (8.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks) saw action in 17 games, playing a bench role. His shot-blocking and rim protection gave Townsville a valuable interior presence, especially when paired with the more offensively-minded Calvary. Moore’s ability to change shots and alter the opposition’s game plan was a key reason why the Crocodiles improved dramatically at the defensive end.
Newley’s rise was a major storyline across the league. The teenage guard became the first player in NBL history to win both Rookie of the Year and Best Sixth Man honours in the same season, while also earning All-Star Game MVP with a 35-point explosion in Townsville. That night, Moore’s teammates Brown (31 points for the World All-Stars) and Rillie (23 points for the Aussies) also starred, with Brown winning the Dunk Competition in front of 5,078 fans at the Townsville Entertainment Centre.
Moore’s contributions were most evident in the playoffs. In the Elimination Final, the Crocs defeated the Melbourne Tigers 112–100 behind a strong team performance. Moore provided interior resistance that helped neutralize Melbourne’s bigs, allowing Townsville to control the paint. In the semi-finals, Townsville lost Game 1 to Illawarra 100–84 on the road, then narrowly fell 109–105 in Game 2 at home to exit the postseason. Although he played limited minutes behind Calvary, Moore’s defensive presence remained crucial in key stretches throughout both series.
Though he didn’t receive the accolades of his higher-profile teammates, Moore’s (2.5 blocks per game) were among the league’s best, and his presence off the bench was essential to the Crocs’ surge back into playoff contention. He gave Townsville the interior depth they had lacked the previous year and brought stability to a frontcourt rotation that helped anchor one of the strongest defensive teams in the NBL that season.
Derek Moore played five seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Sydney Kings, Adelaide 36ers and Townsville Crocodiles. He averaged 9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 103 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 44th in blocks per game.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | 30 | Townsville | 19-13 (3) | 17 | 360.0 | 152 | 90 | 12 | 28 | 62 | 10 | 42 | 19 | 46 | 52 | 113 | 46% | 7 | 23 | 30% | 41 | 53 | 77% | 55% | 49% | 18 |
| 2003-04 | 29 | Adelaide | 14-19 (8) | 6 | 104.0 | 34 | 20 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 14 | 33 | 42% | 1 | 7 | 14% | 5 | 5 | 100% | 48% | 44% | 19 |
| 2001-02 | 27 | Sydney | 14-16 (8) | 21 | 375.0 | 147 | 83 | 11 | 31 | 52 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 53 | 53 | 116 | 46% | 6 | 22 | 27% | 35 | 48 | 73% | 53% | 48% | 17 |
| 2000-01 | 26 | Sydney | 17-11 (5) | 31 | 843.0 | 338 | 213 | 41 | 70 | 143 | 19 | 62 | 48 | 112 | 138 | 283 | 49% | 7 | 31 | 23% | 55 | 82 | 67% | 52% | 50% | 23 |
| 1999-00 | 25 | Sydney | 11-17 (7) | 28 | 604.0 | 258 | 143 | 19 | 67 | 76 | 21 | 46 | 27 | 61 | 106 | 194 | 55% | 4 | 9 | 44% | 42 | 58 | 72% | 58% | 56% | 20 | Totals | 103 | 2286 | 929 | 549 | 87 | 208 | 341 | 59 | 167 | 122 | 292 | 363 | 739 | 49.1% | 25 | 92 | 27.2% | 178 | 246 | 72.4% | 55% | 51% | 23 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | 30 | Townsville | 19-13 (3) | 17 | 21.2 | 8.9 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 6.6 | 46% | 0.4 | 1.4 | 30% | 2.4 | 3.1 | 77% | 55% | 49% | 18 |
| 2003-04 | 29 | Adelaide | 14-19 (8) | 6 | 17.3 | 5.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 5.5 | 42% | 0.2 | 1.2 | 14% | 0.8 | 0.8 | 100% | 48% | 44% | 19 |
| 2001-02 | 27 | Sydney | 14-16 (8) | 21 | 17.9 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 5.5 | 46% | 0.3 | 1.0 | 27% | 1.7 | 2.3 | 73% | 53% | 48% | 17 |
| 2000-01 | 26 | Sydney | 17-11 (5) | 31 | 27.2 | 10.9 | 6.9 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 9.1 | 49% | 0.2 | 1.0 | 23% | 1.8 | 2.6 | 67% | 52% | 50% | 23 |
| 1999-00 | 25 | Sydney | 11-17 (7) | 28 | 21.6 | 9.2 | 5.1 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 6.9 | 55% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 44% | 1.5 | 2.1 | 72% | 58% | 56% | 20 | Total | 103 | 22.2 | 9.0 | 5.3 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 7.2 | 49.1% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 27.2% | 0.2 | 0.9 | 72.4% | 55% | 51% | 23 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 23 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Derek Moore did not play in a major FIBA tournament, but did represent Australia at the 2001 FIBA Oceania Qualifiers.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Italy - Crabs Rimini (2002–2003) | New Zealand - Hawke's Bay Hawks (2005)
Moore spent the 2002/03 season in Italy with Crabs Rimini in Legadue, the country’s second division, joining the club ahead of the 2002–03 campaign after being signed on 9 August 2002.
He made his Rimini league debut on 29 September 2002 in the opening round of the 2002–03 Legadue season, a 76–93 home loss to Pallacanestro Messina, and he played alongside teammates including Lee Matthews, Diego Ciorciari, Guilherme Giovannoni, Juan Antonio Morales, and Derrek Hamilton during that Rimini stint.
In 2005, Moore played in New Zealand for the Hawkes Bay Hawks during the New Zealand NBL season that ran from 18 March to 8 July, and the Hawks finished the year as grand final runner-up to the Auckland Stars.
During that 2005 Hawkes Bay season he led the league in blocked shots at 2.2 blocks per game, and he produced notable single-game lines that included 25 points in a 104–84 win and 26 points with 17 rebounds in an overtime win over the Wellington Saints, with Hawks teammates that season including Dusty Rychart, Paul Henare, Paora Winitana, A. J. Majstrovich, and Willie Burton.
COLLEGE
Derek Moore played college basketball at the University of South Carolina Aiken, competing in NCAA Division II and the Peach Belt Conference from the 1995-96 season through the 1998-99 campaign, and he became one of the program’s defining interior defenders over that four-year span.
Moore made an immediate impact as a freshman in 1995-96, when he was named the Peach Belt Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and also earned selection to an NCAA Division II All-Freshmen team. During that season he set Peach Belt and USC Aiken records for most blocked shots in a season (97) and most blocked shots in a game (10), while also establishing school freshman marks for rebounds in a season (200) and rebounds in a game (16). He ranked among the conference leaders that year in field goal percentage (.531) and rebounding (7.7 per game), and he led the league in blocked shots per game (3.7). He produced multiple signature performances, including a triple-double at Augusta State with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks, and another triple-double against Southern Wesleyan with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks, while recording five double-doubles and reaching double figures in scoring 16 times.
Across his four seasons at USC Aiken (1995-96 through 1998-99), Moore was a four-time second team All-Peach Belt Conference selection, earning that recognition in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, and he finished his collegiate career as the only four-time All-PBC men’s basketball player in the program’s history. Entering his senior season in 1998-99, he was also listed as a preseason All-America selection by the Division II Bulletin, reflecting how established he had become within the Division II landscape before the year began.
Statistically, Moore left USC Aiken as both the school’s and the Peach Belt Conference’s all-time leader in blocked shots, finishing with 408 career blocks and a career average of 4.0 blocks per game, and he also set the program career record for rebounds with 841. One of his most notable single-game defensive performances came on December 5, 1998 against Coastal Carolina, when he recorded 12 blocks, a Peach Belt Conference single-game record that is also recognized in NCAA Division II men’s basketball record listings. Over the course of his USC Aiken career, he was also named Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week three times, underscoring the frequency with which his impact translated into weekly conference recognition in addition to his season awards and record-setting production.
Moore’s college background included time at Canterbury Boys School in Sydney, and after high school he played in an under-22 league where he averaged 20 points per game, with his high school team not recording statistics. He also lettered in tennis while in school, adding to a multi-sport profile before and during his path into college basketball at USC Aiken.
AWARDS
- NBL Rookie Of The Year (2000)
Related
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