Published: 8/27/2013
Author: Bob_Richards
© Old Gold Free Press Columnists
The Purdue women's basketball team received their third commitment from the class of 2014 this evening, when Mount Vernon (Fortville) forward Erica Moore chose Purdue over Louisville, Indiana, Cincinnati, St. John’s and Michigan State.A frequent visitor to the Purdue campus, the 6'1 forward averaged 17.6 points and 7.7 rebounds shooting 53-percent from the field and 79-percent from the line during a shortened junior season due to cartilage damage to her knee. She was back on the floor by sectionals of the IHSAA state tournament, and helped Mount Vernon to the Class 3A state title with a 61-47 victory over Hamilton Heights. She scored 14 points and set a 3A record of 15 rebounds in the final game on a knee she described at the time as being about 70-percent.
The title game win in 2013 avenged a three point loss to Fort Wayne Concordia in the 2012 Class 3A title game. Mount Vernon returned to the championship game despite losing four starters from the 2011-12 roster. The road gets more difficult for the 2013-14 season, as Mount Vernon moves from 3A up to 4A. The move might be a blessing to Moore's shot at being the 2014 Indiana Miss Basketball, as she will be seen by a new set of voters in Class 4A. Coaches and media members from across the state cast ballots in late February into early March for the award.
Moore held additional offers in hand from Michigan, Syracuse, Butler, and others. She is ranked as the 46th-best player in the 2014 class by Full Court, and the 48th-best prospect by Prospects Nation.
Taking a look at Mount Vernon's 2013-14 schedule, the closest Moore comes to the Lafayette area during the regular season appears to be the last game of the season on February 4th at Western Boone in Thorntown, Indiana. But a rematch with the team they beat in the 2013 IHSAA final game, Hamilton Heights, comes on November 27th.
2013-14 Mount Vernon (Fortville) schedule
11/15 at Connersville
11/19 at Lawrence Central
11/22 Rushville
11/27 at Hamilton Heights
12/07 Pendleton Heights
12/10 at Anderson
12/14 Yorktown
12/17 at New Palestine
12/21 Indianapolis North Central
12/28 at Martinsville
01/04 Richmond
01/11 at Noblesville
01/18 Shelbyville
01/21 Guerin Catholic
01/24 at Greenfield-Central
01/28 New Castle
02/01 Delta
02/04 at Western Boone
Share