GCU adds Norfolk State transfer Brian Moore Jr. awarded as nation’s best mid-major player

Grand Canyon men’s basketball continued to build its 2025-26 roster by adding Norfolk State’s Brian Moore Jr. out of the transfer portal on Friday, Travis Branham of 247 Sports first reported.

Moore won the Lou Henson Award, which is given to the nation’s best mid-major player, averaging 18.1 points while shooting 54.5% from the floor and 39.4% from 3. He added 3.7 rebounds and three assists (1.6 turnovers) per game.

He scored 17 points on 7-for-15 shooting in a game at GCU in November, adding two assists and three steals in a ‘Lopes win.

Moore averaged 13 points and 2.3 assists over three conference games, leading Norfolk State to a MEAC Championship before eventual Final Four team Florida held him to six points in 18 minutes in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

How does Brian Moore Jr. fit into the picture at GCU?

Much of the core that helped bring GCU to three straight NCAA Tournaments has moved on, whether due to exhausted eligibility or the portal.

Assuming guard Makaih Williams returns, Moore would likely join Williams in the starting backcourt as the roster stands. Sharpshooting wing Caleb Shaw (42.6% from 3) joins Williams as the only two available holdovers from last season’s rotation.

He joins wings Jaden Henley (No. 78 in 247 Sports’ transfer rankings) of UNLV and Dusty Stromer (No. 103) in Phoenix as the No. 142 transfer himself.

Grand Canyon does not have any freshmen signed in the 2025 class, and it lost its trio of 2024 freshmen to the portal.

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