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Passing of John(ny) Moates

spider fan

spider fan

Spider's Club
Dec 4, 2003
11,155
3,312
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Rest in peace former Spider basketball player
https://www.richmond.com/obituaries/moates-john/article_456d8ad5-68c6-52bf-9049-e736f8385142.html

Stats from richmondspiders.com 16th leading scorer

16. Johnny Moates...........1964-67...74 gms ..... 1440 pts..... 19.46 ppg
Yr G FG-FGA PCT 3FG-3FGA PCT FT-FTA PCT REB-AVG. A BLK ST TP-AVG.
64-65 26 148-357 .415 -- -- 69-92 .750 97-3.7 -- -- -- 365-14.0
65-66 25 204-475 .429 -- -- 93-124 .750 123-4.9 -- -- -- 501-20.0
66-67 23 219-500 .438 -- -- 136-176 .773 117-5.1 -- -- -- 574-25.0
Totals 74 571-1332 .428 -- -- 298-392 .760 337-4.5 -- -- -- 1440-19.5
 
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Had a great looking jump shot that was the highest arching shot I've ever seen, if there had been a three point shot his average would have been even higher, his points were virtually all jump shots.

It is odd the top 5 career scoring average none of them played in the 3 point era?
 
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Big part of that dynamic I-M is that teams relied more on one or two players for scoring. Pistol Pete averaged 44.2 and it is estimated he would have averaged 56 to 57. Moates would have raised his average considerably as well. Remember well his ball handling and the high arch shots you mentioned.
 
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spider fan said:
Big part of that dynamic I-M is that teams relied more on one or two players for scoring. Pistol Pete averaged 44.2 and it is estimated he would have averaged 56 to 57. Moates would have raised his average considerably as well. Remember well his ball handling and the high arch shots you mentioned.
Click to expand...
Moates jump shot was a lot like Pistol Pete's shot. Remember the games at the arena when I was around 10 years old.
 
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It's typically not kind to speak unkindly of the dead, especially when one just passed away and literally just had their service and is still waiting for the permission to have their ashes spread. Which means over a month since his very quick, painful, and unexpected passing his family-especially his 3 children and 4 grandchildren, still have not been able to find closure or begin to heal.
So AnnapSpider, if you truly bleed as blue and red as my father did, was as strong as a supporter of the basketball and sports programs and his fraternity and his team mates who have been there along with him as strong as a blood family is- then you shouldn't be talking about his 'sniff' considering he was the first one from Richmond to ever be drafted- or that terrible and assine 'walk on water' comment, but either refrain from saying something if you truly don't care or just take it somewhere else.
It's hurtful to those who do care and want to remember.
 
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Sorry to hear this news. Always was a pleasant conversation when I encountered him at the WCRW which seemed daily. Very nice man who could talk to you all day about Spider basketball. He will be missed.
 
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To the family of Mr. Moates, his friends and team mates - very sorry for your loss. Wish I had a chance to see him play. Many Spider firsts.

From the RTD article:

One of the University of Richmond’s brightest basketball stars

Was named the Southern Conference player of the year as a Spiders senior in 1967. He was the first Richmond player to win the award.

Selected first-team all-league and all-state in 1966 and 1967

First Spider to be drafted by an NBA team (first of 12)

Two-time Spiders captain

UR Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011

In 2013 the school named an all-time team as part of the 100th anniversary celebration. Mr. Moates was among 16 players honored. (very elite company and a big deal)

Go Spiders!
 
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w.moatessimmons said:
It's typically not kind to speak unkindly of the dead, especially when one just passed away and literally just had their service and is still waiting for the permission to have their ashes spread. Which means over a month since his very quick, painful, and unexpected passing his family-especially his 3 children and 4 grandchildren, still have not been able to find closure or begin to heal.
So AnnapSpider, if you truly bleed as blue and red as my father did, was as strong as a supporter of the basketball and sports programs and his fraternity and his team mates who have been there along with him as strong as a blood family is- then you shouldn't be talking about his 'sniff' considering he was the first one from Richmond to ever be drafted- or that terrible and assine 'walk on water' comment, but either refrain from saying something if you truly don't care or just take it somewhere else.
It's hurtful to those who do care and want to remember.
Click to expand...
I am so sorry you read my comment as being insensitive or less than respectful.
Johnny was a great player that was Spider Basketball in his day.
Saying he had a sniff at the NBA , really means he had an opportunity that many, many other
college players never even get.
I didn't know him personally, but I do know that I never heard anyone speak poorly of
him.
I wish you and your family peace in knowing that he left a mark on the University that few have
God Bless.
 
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I knew John Moates. He was very approachable and very involved with Spider sports. He led an interesting life and he was a very nice person and a great Spider. If you have read “My Losing Season” by Pat Conroy, you would get a good sense of how great a player he actually was. My condolences to his family. He will be missed.
 
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AnnapSpider said:
I am so sorry you read my comment as being insensitive or less than respectful.
Johnny was a great player that was Spider Basketball in his day.
Saying he had a sniff at the NBA , really means he had an opportunity that many, many other
college players never even get.
I didn't know him personally, but I do know that I never heard anyone speak poorly of
him.
I wish you and your family peace in knowing that he left a mark on the University that few have
God Bless.
Click to expand...
 
I'm sorry for jumping the gun. Dad explained how much different it was going into the NBA. He was passing with another player and the strength behind the ball jammed and broke his fingers. But the biggest thing was the speed and constantly going at those speeds. Plus there were other issues going on in the country at the time as well.
 
I got a chance to know Johnny later in life, and I really enjoyed the conversations we had. He had great stories to share from his basketball days...very insightful. Good guy! My best to Johnny's family.
 
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Remember Coach from my required 2 years of PE. He allowed me to work with the MBB freshman during PE even though I was thoroughly outclassed. Super guy, never a discouraging word. Made me believe I was helping out. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
 
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He was definitely one of my all-time favorite Spiders, and fun to be around and talk with.

If he had been allowed to play as a freshman and had the 3-pt shot in his time, he most likely been our all-time scorer. His beautiful jumper was so high arcing, I was always afraid they would hit the rafters in the old Arena' s low hanging roof!
 
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I haven't been on this message board for many months, but would like to comment. Johnny Moates was the first great college basketball player that I had the pleasure of seeing play in person- at the Arena- for the Spiders- when I was 8 or 9 years old. I remember listening to the UR games on the radio announced by the legendary Frank Soden. I would be in my backyard on the dirt basketball court pretending I was the great Johnny Moates. Ironically, later I would attend and play basketball (bench warmer) for Johnny's high school-Benedictine. I also graduated from U.R. God blessed us with Johnny. And, God bless his family.
 
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