by Ryan Capeloto, SDA Student Communications Intern

It is not common for college students to reach a point where they want to drop out of school, take a semester off and come back, or even tell themselves they want to take a break and will come back to school later.
 
Multiple obstacles stand in place to prevent students from coming back. Whether it is student loans piling up in their accounts, family matters taking priority, or the difficulty of attempting to juggle everyday life while also earning a college degree, returning to school may seem unrealistic.
 
However, these obstacles didn't stop Sun Devil basketball player Steven Moore from returning to college to finish off his degree nearly 15 years later.
 

Graduation and commencement is soon. For Sun Devil @SlamStevo -- who finished his Sun Devil playing days in 2005 -- it comes a bit later but it is just as much more earned and appreciated. Look for his story soon (and more great family photos) @SunDevil_OSAD pic.twitter.com/K50k223ra6

— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) April 22, 2019

Moore left Arizona State in 2005 after his senior season, at the time he was a mere two semesters away from completing his degree in Liberal Studies. His path to what he has accomplished and where he stands today is a testament to his outstanding character and great personality.
 
"Growing up in my area, going to college wasn't something that was supposed to happen," Moore says of his Compton neighborhood. 
 
Steven grew up in a large family, being the youngest of five children. Although he was separated from all of his other siblings until he was in eighth grade, they are still a big part of his life. Growing up he played many different sports such as basketball, baseball, and soccer. He had a love for sports which was not uncommon in his family. His older brother also had a passion for sports, which led him to become a baseball star. His brother would have gone on to play professionally for the Chicago Cubs, but a torn rotator cuff ended his career far too early.
 
Following in his big brothers' steps, Steven was a very well gifted athlete. Although his passion is for basketball, he loved playing baseball as well. He joined a club basketball team, the Southern California All Stars, coached by Pat Berry. The decision to join the team whether he knew it or not at the time was one that influenced the rest of his life. Before coming to this team, Steven had played multiple sports and was not focused on one sole sport. Steven mentioned how eye opening this team was to him, "Their eyes were set on playing basketball. This is not Santa Monica anymore, show what you got or go back and play baseball. It was a basketball culture shock. I found out it's okay to believe in yourself and show emotion. Okay to have the mindset to cut this dude's head off in practice or he'll do the same to you."  
 
Joining that club team had a big impact on the high school sports he played. Steven and the basketball team grew so close and wanted to be on the court playing every second of the day.

"Sophomore summer going to junior year, I decided to go towards basketball. I was jumping a little higher, grew a little bit. We would eat, breathe, play basketball anytime we could get away from class," he said. This helped the team to a healthy 35-2 record, not to mention the likes of this team also included Tyson Chandler, Tayshaun Prince, and Marcus Moore.

Due to the success of this team winning state championship after championship, the season dragged out late into spring sports, forcing him to miss baseball. Steven recalled this time in his past, being unable to commit fully to both sports.

"Junior year I didn't play baseball at all, lost passion and training for it. Senior year I was only able to play four games due to club."

Basketball was beginning to take over, however Baseball was still in the picture. 
 
He was still regarded as a highly talented baseball player despite the time lost not playing in high school. The Angels brought him to a workout before the 2001 MLB draft, multiple teams attended with multiple athletes working out. Teams like the Yankees, Mariners, Marlins, and Expos were in attendance. He performed well and generated interest with teams, but they were hesitant to sign him to a deal due to the lack of interest he displayed in the tryout. He showed up in some basic baseball attire, and the teams had thought he wasn't taking it seriously. When in reality he just hadn't played ball in a while and didn't have the best equipment compared to some of the other recruits in attendance.
 
In the 2001 MLB draft the Seattle Mariners selected Moore in the 17th round. He ultimately turned down the offer. Turned away by the fact that he wouldn't be able to go to college and play basketball, if a deal was signed, he had to commit to baseball only. Steven wanted the opportunity to go to college and become the first one in his family to go. With the cost of college being so expensive, he also dreamed of being able to attain a scholarship to play basketball so that his mother and family would not have to deal with the heavy expenses.
 
He went on to play basketball after high school at Santa Ana Community College. There is where he polished his craft and excelled. Over the course of 28 games he posted an average of 23.3 points, making the third highest mark in Santa Ana's history while also pumping out records for three-pointers attempted and made. While making his mark known at the junior college level Steven began to spark the interest of some Division-1 programs. 
 
Ecstatic about the chance to play basketball at a more upper echelon Steve said, "chance to be in college and play ball was really my pro's." He was fielding multiple offers from schools like USC, UCLA, Arizona State, Oklahoma State.
 
Upon visiting multiple schools, Steven came to Arizona State and his heart was set. When asked about some of the big driving forces responsible for his decision to commit to ASU was as simple as the culture the Sun Devils provided.

"The day of my visit there was selection Sunday, ASU was selected to go play Memphis in Oklahoma City. Watching all them go crazy, was just something I knew I wanted to be a part of."

Head Coach Rob Evans also drove Moore to join the Devils, they resonated well with each other. He described it as "two puzzle pieces fitting together". 
 
Moore came on to ASU in his junior year and finished 17^thin the conference in scoring (12.7 ppg). When asked about his biggest achievements and moments with his time spent here with the team, he struggled to choose just a few. His biggest achievement is simply put as playing basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils, "Signing my letter of intent, so excited with my girlfriend who is now my wife. Felt like I was motivating people as well. Even at Senior Night the announcer mentioned like all 40 of my family members. It was great for them to be there and experience that with me because they had been there through all my struggles with me." 
 
Steve only had one thing come to mind when asked about what he would change if he could go back to playing basketball for the Sun Devils, "to at least have won one game against Arizona, handling adversity better. I hate to lose but love to win. I would handle my body language better due to me being the leader of the team."
 
Throughout the journey he endured, many distractions became present to a growing adolescent. To get where he wanted to be, Steven needed to stay motivated, headstrong, and have support behind him. He credits that to his mother and family, "Definitely to get my family out of the situation we were in and using my athletic ability to get us out of there."

He did just that. 
 
Leaving Arizona State in 2005, traveled overseas and played for countless teams. In his tenure outside the country he played on teams such as Sodertalje Sweden, Ginásio C.F. Portugal, Fjolnir Iceland, Bascharage Germany, Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat (KTP) Finland. Being able to do all these amazing things and experience a life like this, you have to wonder, what makes someone after a career like that want to come back and finish a degree?
 
Steven attributes all of his drive to and motivation to a very close-knit group of people saying.

"My biggest drive to come back would be my family, wife, and kids. Them seeing me graduate will make them want to do it. I want to really follow through, like my specialty in shooting a jump shot." He wants to lead by example for his kids, "Something I set out to do originally, it was my mom's dream, I'd be the first one in my immediate family to accomplish it."

He is leading by example for everyone in his life he influences. He credits that to his old college roommate and best friend, Robby Aldridge.
 
Reliving the old memories, Steven explained, "Robby Aldridge, my old college roommate, still is my best friend, huge influence to come back to get my degree. Someone I wished I would've listened to much more in school. He was a walk on. His will, drive, hunger to not be looked at as a walk on. Motivated me every single day to work harder." Steven channels this to his everyday life. Now up to date on his life, Steven works and helps teach special needs classes as well as coach basketball. He is an assistant head coach at Harvard West Lake. He wants to eventually have his own program to run. He also takes care of his family of four kids and strives to ensure they are best they can be. 

Moore's key messages being: follow your dreams, finish what you started, don't let anyone tell you that you can't achieve your dream.