Cardinals honor former standout, beat Adams

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:16AM

E'Twaun Moore, returned home Friday to have his jersey retired prior to the Cardinals' 53-44 victory over South Bend Adams.

Moore's ceremony came on the eve of sectionals, giving him an opportunity to do a little motivational speaking to his old team. Averaging 21 points his senior year at East Chicago, Moore led the Cardinals to the 2007 Class 4A state championship, bringing the city its fourth state basketball title.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to (the Cardinals) yet, but I probably will give them a little talk some time here before I go," said Moore. "It's just great to be back here in my hometown and feel all this love."

Moore was awarded the Trester Award for best mental attitude following the Cardinals' 87-83 title win over Indianapolis North Central. His 28 points topped the 25 points scored by the Panthers' Eric Gordon, who subsequently received Indiana's Mr. Basketball award and is currently the NBA's ninth-leading scorer at 24.1 points per game, just behind the Bulls' Derek Rose.

"(Gordon's) a guy I've played against and had some success," said Moore. "It definitely gives me a lot of confidence that I could play at the next level."

Currently in his senior year at Purdue, Moore's play of late has him entering the NBA conversation. Moore is averaging 18.6 points per game this season and just went over 2,000 points for his career, becoming only the fourth player in Big Ten history to accumulate 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 350 assists. He scored 38 points in the 8th-ranked Boilermakers recent victory over No. 2 Ohio State. NBADraft.net projects Moore to be taken by Charlotte in the second round with the 40th pick.

"We've watched him grow and develop into one of the most consistent players in the history of the Big Ten," said Purdue coach Matt Painter in a statement sent in his absence.

"And we've also watched him flourish into one of the nation's top student-athletes.People like E'Twaun don't come around every day, and I'm honored and proud to coach him at Purdue."

Moore also received tribute messages from former coaches Pete Trgovich and Bobby Miles.

As for the game, Donte Brown scored 12 of East Chicago's first 14 points on his way to 21 points in the Cardinal victory. East Chicago (13-7) held South Bend Adams to just 11 points total for the second and third quarters, digging themselves out of an early hole in the process.

The Cardinals also got a game-high 22 points off the bench from Anfernee Brown, while Christopher Hoffman's 17 points led the Eagles.

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