Only play ball if you really want to, he was told.
Jalen Moore's father, Jimmy, had been drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics and competed for 10 years overseas. Basketball was an option, not an obligation, for Moore and his older brother.
So Moore expanded his horizons. He participated in football and track and field in high school. He also took up the bass in the school orchestra for a year.
Still, he found himself drawn to the sport that ran in his family.
"My dad said I had good potential," Moore said. "He didn't push it on me and my brother. But we fell in love with the game and it happened."
Moore, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound small forward, is looking to make it to the NBA following a four-year career at Utah State. Moore averaged 17.0 points (42.6 percent from three), 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 35.5 minutes per game last season.
He worked out for the Sixers on Monday in a group of projected second-round to undrafted prospects. He already met with the Bucks, Magic, Thunder and had the Celtics and Bulls remaining.
"I definitely think I could fit in," Moore said of the Sixers. "I'll play whatever position they need me to play - three, four. I feel like I could stretch the court a little bit. Running, being athletic, shooting the ball, being consistent with it, finishing by the rim."
Moore didn't initially realize his NBA potential when he got to Utah State. He only averaged 17.5 minutes per game as a freshman. However, when several of his teammates transferred, Moore quickly found himself on the court for 30-plus minutes each season thereafter. Last year, Moore tested the draft waters and worked out for the Jazz, Grizzlies and Timberwolves.
"I had good workouts, and I thought I might be able to play in the NBA if I work on it," he said. "Now I'm here."
Moore is soaking up the pre-draft process. He enjoys the three-on-three competition and going up against collegiate players he watched on television. He isn't losing sight of what it means to be considered by NBA teams to play at the highest level. Moore continues to follow the advice of his family, which has helped get him to this point.
"Not a lot of people get to do this, travel around the U.S. and play the sport they love," he said. "The main thing is having fun when I'm doing it. A bunch of people would kill to be doing what you're doing. Just be positive about it and have a good time."
