SMU’s Larry Brown has coached some of the greatest point guards in NBA history. The Hall of Famer has helped players like Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, and Mark Jackson develop their games to become some of the best floor generals of all time.
Brown’s newest point guard project is 5-foot-9, 170-pound sophomore Nic Moore from Winona Lake, Ind.
Moore is leading the Mustangs in one of the greatest seasons in program history. He is currently averaging a team-high 14 points and five assists per game while the team has a 20-6 overall record.
“I’m not surprised because I have been doing this since I was a little kid,” Moore said. “I have always had confidence in my game. Now, I have an opportunity to play for one of the best coaches in NBA history, so I use every practice, every game and everyday to continue to get better. By that, I mean I just do whatever the coaching staff tells me to do and soak it all up.”
When the Hall of Famer Brown was hired as head coach by SMU in 2012, his first move was to fill a need on the roster for a true point guard.
He added Illinois State Coach Tim Jankovich to his coaching staff and talked to the former Illinois State player Moore about playing for him too.
“I was really excited to come play for Coach Brown,” Moore said. “I have learned so much from him and the rest of the coaching staff. Everybody helps me out because everybody has my best interest in mind. I’m the leader of this team on the court, so I have to make sure everybody is in the right spot on both ends of the floor.”
Moore was forced to sit out his first year on the Hilltop because of NCAA transfer rules. He used the year off to improve his game and learn more about his coaches and teammates.
“Nic is getting better everyday,” Brown said. “It’s hard being a point guard for me because of the expectations I have for my guards. He competes hard and always tries to do the right thing. It’s obvious we wouldn’t be as successful as we have been without his contribution.”
Brown has used one of his former point guards Eric Snow to help teach Moore about the nuances of the position. Snow played for Brown on the Philadelphia 76ers in the early 2000s and serves as the Mustangs director of player development.
“Playing point guard for me is very difficult, just ask Eric Snow,” Brown explained. “The nice thing is that I have Eric around and he has heard all the stuff I’m telling Nic. I think Eric’s a pretty good buffer for me. He relates to players better than I do because he has done it before. ”
Snow understands what it is like be one of Brown’s lead guards and has had that extra weight on his shoulders before. Now, he helps Moore understand the demands of the position and has forced the young point guard to be a much more vocal leader.
“Larry expects his point guard to be the coach on the floor, so you have to be the extension of him on the court and that’s a lot of expectations,” Snow said. “It’s more than just playing basketball. It’s also about leading your teammates, making sure everybody is in the right place and executing correctly. Larry holds the point guard accountable for all of that.”
Moore believes Snow has helped take his game to another level this season. He said he is much more patient with the ball now and understands how to play the game the right way.
“He has helped me with knowing when and where to create for myself and others,” Moore said. “I watch guards in the league now, like [Denver Nuggets] Ty Lawson, to see how slow they play and when they turn it up. I’m trying to adapt to the NBA game at the college level and E. Snow is helping me a lot with that.”
Snow is confident in Moore’s ability because of how much he has improved already this season. The former NBA player said Moore maybe undersized, but the SMU point guard has a chance to make it in the NBA because of his basketball IQ and work ethic.
“You have to be wiling to make some sacrifices to your game to play point guard in the NBA,” Snow said. “We are all constantly teaching our players. I think Nic has improved a great deal. The expectations are much more than what he has been asked to do in the past, but I think he is very capable of it. If he keeps learning and getting better everyday, there is no reason to think he can’t make it.”
