EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Athletics Department of Intercollegiate Athletics retired Hall of Famer and former-NBA player Otto Moore's No. 34 jersey during a special halftime ceremony on Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
 
Moore's jersey number is the third to ever be retired in the department's history, and the second in men's basketball, along with Luke Jackson's No. 54, which was retired across all sports, and head baseball coach emeritus Al Ogletree, whose No. 44 was retired in baseball.
 
"There's only one other jersey up there, and everyone knows who he is," Moore said. "To go up there with Lucious is a great honor."
 
A 6-11 center from Miami, Fla., Moore played at Pan American College from 1964-68, finishing as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,880 points. He also holds the program records for rebounds (1,679) and field goals made (761) and attempted (1,560). Moore ranks second in program history in free throws made (364) and attempted (591).
 
As a senior, Moore earned Second Team All-American honors after leading Pan American to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament by averaging 24.6 points per game, tied for the eighth-highest single-season total in program history, on .510 shooting to go with 18.5 rebounds per game, the sixth-highest total. Early in the season, he had a 19-for-33 performance from the field against Prairie View A&M, then the second most baskets made in a game in program history (now tied for fourth) on the most attempts (now tied for ninth). He finished the season with 664 points, then the third-highest single season total in program history (now seventh), after hitting 284 baskets, then the third-highest total (now fourth) in 557 attempts, then the second-highest total (now seventh). He also had 497 rebounds, which ranks fifth.
 
Moore is responsible for three of the top six rebounding seasons in program history, earning Third Team All-American honors as a junior after averaging 19.3 rebounds, the fourth-highest total in program history, for a total of 463 rebounds, the sixth-highest total. He was also an All-American Honorable Mention as a sophomore after averaging 20.1 rebounds, the second-highest total in program history, for a total of 562 rebounds, which ranks third.
 
Moore is also credited with six of the top 10 individual rebounding efforts in program history, including a 35-rebound game at Lamar on Dec. 1, 1966, which is tied for the 19^th highest single-game total in NCAA Division II history.
 
A 1968 first round pick (sixth overall) in the NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, Moore had a nine-year NBA career with the Pistons (1969-71, 75-76), Phoenix Suns (1971-72), Houston Rockets (1972-73), Kansas City Kings (1973-74) and New Orleans Jazz (1975-77). In 682 games, Moore averaged 8.2 points on .453 shooting to go with 8.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. One of Moore's best seasons was in 1975-76, when he ranked seventh in the NBA in defensive rating (92.3) and defensive rebound percentage (26.3) and eighth in blocks (136) and blocks per game (1.7). During the season, he averaged 9.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He averaged a career-high 11.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game in 1969-70, and again averaged a doubled-double of 11.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in 1972-73.
 
During his NBA career, Moore had the opportunity to bring his team to campus, leading the Pistons against the Suns in an exhibition game at what was then known as the Pan American Fieldhouse on Oct. 10, 1970.
 
"Few have meant as much to this athletic department as Otto Moore, who was an integral part of our success before returning to the Valley as an NBA starter," UTRGV Director of Athletics Chris King said. "Retiring a jersey is one of the greatest honors in college athletics, and after all Otto did for Pan American, he deserves to have his number hanging at the Fieldhouse for many years to come."

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