Former OU star Jalon Moore out with torn Achilles tendon

Absolute gut-wrenching news for former OU basketball star Jalon Moore as Jonathan Givony reports Moore has torn his Achilles tendon earlier this week.

Moore has been on that borderline regarding the NBA Draft. He was either going to be a late-second round selection or someone who was going to have to prove his worth in summer league and beyond.

But he had done everything right to get to this spot. A solid NBA Draft Combine put Moore in position to be in position.

NEWS: Oklahoma's Jalon Moore – ESPN No. 63 ranked prospect – tore his achilles tendon in a pre-draft workout in San Antonio, agent Mike Silverman of Equity Sports confirmed to ESPN.

Moore had successful surgery the following day and is expected to make a full recovery. pic.twitter.com/ODfGrYFBDD

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 21, 2025

Head coach Porter Moser had told SoonerScoop two weeks ago teams like the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs had been showing interest. And that Moore’s plan of attack was to keep having the pre-Draft workouts and making the impression.

The NBA Draft, after all, is set for Wednesday (first round) and Thursday (second round).

Draft Express elaborated on the report saying it happened during a workout with the Spurs. He had surgery the very next day, considered a success and expected to make a full recovery.

OU basketball will, however, still be getting some great Draft news this week. Former star guard Jeremiah Fears is fully expected to be a lottery selection. Anywhere from around Nos. 5-8 has been where Fears has been projected to land Wednesday.

Moser reflects on Moore

SoonerScoop had a chance to ask Moser at the NCAA Tournament about what Moore has meant to the OU program. From Georgia Tech to Norman, the difference he made and that OU made in him. And, of course, ending it in style with that elusive berth in the NCAA Tournament.

“Jalon was in the portal leaving Georgia Tech, and just like it is right now, there’s a frenzy, and you’re looking at stats and analytics, and Jalon averaged, I think, 4 or 5 points. I think he shot 17 percent from 3, making four 3s.

“We just loved his positional athleticism. I loved his energy level. I related so much with his smile. He has this infectious smile and energy level. But then when he gets on the court, he’s got this — and he brings that to the game.

“Jalon gets his athleticism in the game. The way he runs the court, the way we rebounds, the way he drives to the basket. And it’s a credit to him.

“His work ethic, for him to look at where he’s gone from a guy that averaged 4 a game to being 17 a game, to being a two-year 40 percent shooter from 3, around that neighborhood, that’s a tremendous jump in his skill level. He’s going to be able to play after college, and that’s a credit to his work ethic, his skill development.

“Last year at this time, for those of you that don’t know, we sat one-on-one, and he just said, I’m in, Coach. I’m in, I’m coming back. That’s so much of an unbelievable joy to go through this and then to be — to have him and our program rewarded to fight through this hard.

“I’ll always think of Jalon of fighting through hard because he wanted it so bad this year. And there was a moment this year where it was easy for everyone to quit, getting gut punched, and we just — life lesson, staying with it, persistence, faith, resiliency, fighting through hard.

“To get these wins down the stretch and play your best basketball, Jalon Moore has been the heart and soul of our team for that.”