Aug. 20--Before every coach with an available scholarship and a desire for a point guard wanted Charlie Moore, he was a high-priority target for Illinois.
The Illini received good news from Moore on Wednesday, though the battle for the Morgan Park senior is far from over.
Moore said he set up official visits to California (Sept. 11), Pittsburgh (Sept. 18), Illinois (Sept. 25) and Memphis (Oct. 2) -- a disparate foursome that reflects what a widely popular player the 5-foot-10 Moore became on the AAU circuit this summer.
Arguably the state's top overall player in the Class of 2016, Moore said he may take a fifth visit -- DePaul, Georgia Tech, Iowa and St. John's are among his other offers -- and stressed that the visits do not represent his finalists.
"This is not my final four, just the four schools I want to visit," Moore said. "My family and I are still talking to other schools. We're going to narrow the list down in the next four weeks."
Norvell yet to set visits: The state's only other high-major guard, Simeon's Zack Norvell, said Wednesday he has yet to set up any official visits.
Moore's backcourt mate on the Mac Irvin Fire and rival in the Public League Red South, Norvell said last month he plans to visit Illinois and Oregon but has not scheduled those trips.
Norvell said Bradley, DePaul, Florida State, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Loyola, Memphis, Oklahoma, Purdue and Wake Forest have also offered the 6-4 lefty.
Norvell and Moore are close friends and both have Illinois on their lists, but don't plan to visit together.
"We're going to do it separate," Moore said. "We talked it over and want to do what's best for us."
Glenbard West's Justin Pierce announced his four finalists.
Pierce, a Class of 2016 wing whose stock climbed dramatically this offseason, told prephoopsillinois.com he is down to Boston, Northeastern and William Mary.
He has already visited William Mary and plans to visit the other two.
Helfgot is a freelance reporter.
