Gimme 5: Why UConn's Maya Moore rocks

Sports

Gimme 5 ASF on why UConn's Maya Moore (formerly of Collins Hill HS in Gwinnett) is majorly awesome at the college level as a freshman.

Former Collins Hill star and AJC girls basketball player of the year Maya Moore (UConn #23 in all photos) leads No. 1 UConn in scoring as a freshman. Her new coach, Geno Auriemma, gives us five qualities Moore has that could make her one of the school's best ever: 1. Intensity: She plays hard every possession and has a competitiveness about her that resides in every great athlete.

2. Court awareness: She has a knack for knowing where she needs to be on the floor in any situation, no matter the score or if it's on the offensive or defensive end.

3. Versatility: She has the talent and ability to play all five positions and she can score from any point on the floor. She possesses a prototype WNBA body as a college freshman.

4. Maturity: She possesses a basketball IQ rare in a freshman. She has already established herself as a leader among her teammates with her ability to take over a game.

5. Poise: She has shown the ability to put her team on her back in tough situations just 16 games into her freshman collegiate campaign, leading us back from a nine-point deficit in a recent win at Syracuse with 13 second-half points and 17 rebounds. GIVE US FIVE: Got someone you'd like to see us go after? E-mail list ideas to Jeff D'Alessio at jd'alessio@ajc.com.

1/5

Former Collins Hill star and AJC girls basketball player of the year Maya Moore (UConn #23 in all photos) leads No. 1 UConn in scoring as a freshman. Her new coach, Geno Auriemma, gives us five qualities Moore has that could make her one of the school's best ever: 1. Intensity: She plays hard every possession and has a competitiveness about her that resides in every great athlete.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Alerts

AJC photos of the month -- January 2026

PHOTOS: Braves settle into day 2 of spring training

PHOTOS: Braves arrive for spring training

PHOTOS: A look at Kennesaw State baseball's new home

PHOTOS: Hawks fall at home to Celtics

PHOTOS: No. 21 Georgia holds off No. 17 Arkansas in men's basketball

Buford football holds ceremony to celebrate its consensus national championship

PHOTOS: Matt Ryan introduced as Falcons President of Football