Future JWCC teammates ready to represent on college home floor in Muddy River Showcase

QUINCY — Neither Nick Moore nor Zack Evans is showing outward concern over the uncertainty surrounding John Wood Community College’s search for a men’s basketball coach, which has moved past the eight-week mark.

And neither has wavered on their decision to sign with the Trail Blazers.

The opportunity to play together is just too enticing.

Moore, the Camp Point Central all-state guard, and Evans, the leading scorer and first-team all-stater for Class 1A state champion WInchester West Central, are the linchpins of the JWCC recruiting class and will give Trail Blazers fans a glimpse of what’s to come when they suit up together Saturday in the third annual Muddy River Showcase.

“Last summer, we played together on an AAU team,” Moore said. “I got to know him pretty well, too. So I’m pretty excited.”

Evans believes the all-star game, which tips at 4 p.m. at JWCC’s Student Activity Center, is a great way to display their games.

“It’s going to be a cool atmosphere, especially since we’re going to be playing there in college,” Evans said. “Since we played AAU together, we have that team chemistry already. That should help us a lot.”

It also means there are some inherent expectations to perform.

“There’s absolutely some pressure there,” Evans said.

It’s nothing more daunting than  the expectations both faced every Friday night during the winter.

“It’s a reason to go out and represent,” Moore said. “And I want to represent for my hometown, too.”

The quarterback of the Central football team that went 27-1 the past two seasons and won the Class 1A state title last November, Moore guided the Panthers to a 25-win season and a Class 1A regional championship during basketball season. He averaged 15.5 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals per game and was a second-team all-state selection.

Meanwhile, Evans became the all-time leading scorer in Cougars’ history while guiding West Central to the Class 1A state championship. Evans averaged 21 points, six rebounds and three assists per game in being named a first-team all-stater.

When both were targeted by former JWCC coach Brad Hoyt during the recruiting process, Moore knew they’d be a good fit together.

“I kind of say I recruited him, too,” Moore said. “It’s going to be a good two years with him.”

Before they don the JWCC green and gold, they get to represent their state and the community one final time as high school standouts in the perfect place to launch their college careers.

“You don’t get to play in very many state vs. state games, so this is a pretty neat experience,” Evans said.

Tickets for the Muddy River Showcase are $10
with all seats general admission and all sales at the door.