CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.- Eric Mosley, 6-0 guard who averaged 26.4 points per game as a senior at Louisville Moore High School, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Austin Peay State University.
Mosley, who transferred from a Richmond (Ind.) prep school for his senior season, shot nearly 50 percent from the floor, including 35 percent from three-point range for a Moore High School team that went from nine wins in 2007-08 to 23-8 this season-one of the most improved teams in the state.
Moore also claimed a district championship but lost its regional contest to Trinity by two points, with Moore missing the last 11 minutes because of a sprained ankle.
"We weren't necessarily looking for another guard-and we are guard heavy," APSU Coach Dave Loos said. "But Eric brings something to the table that we failed to show we had this season-consistent scoring from our guard position, other than (second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference guard Wes) Channels. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know we lost a lot of points in Drake Reed (21.9 ppg) and we have to find ways to replace those points."
Mosley was named second-team All-State by both Louisville Courier-Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader. He also was ranked as the fourth best prep prospect in Kentucky by High Potential Recruiting Service.
Mosley recorded seven games with 40 or more points during his senior season in which he scored 828 points. However, it was another statistic that stood out to Loos not only on paper but in person as well. In 31 games, Mosley attempted 254 free throws (189 makes/74 percent).
"Eric gives us an athletic guard who has unique scoring ability," Loos said. "He is very good at getting in the lane-he has a terrific crossover-gets to the basket and is a good finisher. He gets to the free-throw line an extraordinary amount of times. He really is good at getting fouled and is extremely good at finishing.
"When you talk about scoring, free throws is an important part of it. You have to be able to get to the free-throw line as part of your attack. We just didn't do a good job of getting to the free-throw line this past season.
"We saw Eric one night get 47 points and he took only 22 shots-so he is not a guy who just throws it up there every time he gets it. He is pretty efficient, actually."
Mosley also averaged 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.2 steals per game for a team that finished 24th in the state the Herald-Leader final poll.
"He finds open people pretty well," Loos said. "He also has a good dribble pull-up (jump shot). He is really creative. He gets in there and he looks like he is in trouble and he comes out of it. He has a way to come out of there and score. (Freshmen point guard Tyrone) Caldwell is a guy who looks like he is trouble but gets out of it with passes. This guy looks like he is in trouble but scores-both are good qualities to have.
"On the defense end, though, like all incoming freshmen, Eric will have some work to do." (letsgopeay.com)
