From East Chicago’s Guthrie Street to the NBA: The E’Twaun Moore Story

From Chicago to the NBA; looking back at the E’Twaun Moore story and how he has become a household name for the New Orleans Pelicans

When a sunrise happens in Northwest Indiana, that usually means it’s time for steelworkers to punch out and go home.

For E’Twaun Moore, his mornings weren’t spent at a steel mill. Instead, they were spent inside the gym at East Chicago Central High School.

There’s Gary, Valparaiso, Merrillville, Michigan City, and other surrounding cities in Northwest Indiana. This is only one part of “Hoosier Hysteria.”

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Some of the best high school basketball players in Indiana history were birthed in the “Region.”

Legends. Mr. Basketballs. We’re talking Gary Roosevelt’s Glenn Robinson in 1991; Valpo’s Bryce Drew in 1994. Michigan City had three Mr. Basketball’s: Dan Palombizio in 1981, Delray Brooks in 1984, and Charles Macon in 1992.

You’ve probably never heard of these guys. They paved the way for guys like E’Twaun Moore to become another basketball icon.

On Guthrie Street, everyone called him “Smooge.” He grew up in East Chicago’s “Harborside” housing projects. Poverty, drugs, gang violence; the elements of a low-income area.

At one point, Guthrie Street was considered one of the most notorious streets in Northwest Indiana.

That experience on Guthrie Street made E’Twaun Moore solemnly tough. Tough enough to fight for rebounds as opposed to fighting for survival in East Chicago.

East Chicago, IN, a small industrialized city that sits on the shores of Lake Michigan, and right outside of Chicago, has always carried a perception of crime, drugs, and gang affiliation.

E’Twaun eradicated those atrocities. But how did he do it?

Moore was heavily influenced by his older brother and sister; Ezell and Ekeisha. They grew up on Guthrie Street and overcame the same struggles. Ezell and Ekeisha are both college graduates. Enough positive influences for “Smooge” to see the bigger picture.

That picture became a little bigger during his senior year at EC Central High School. In 2007, Moore was one of the nation’s top prospects, and also one of Indiana’s top guards.

I watched E’Twaun as a junior in high school at the 2007 IHSAA Boys Basketball Regional. It was a playoff game that was hosted at my high school Alma mater; Michigan City High School. Packed house. East Chicago was loaded with talent. I remember guys like 6-foot-11 phenom Angel Garcia, and Kawann Short; an NFL defensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers. A team full of stars.

Moore led East Chicago to a 23-3 record with a trip to the IHSAA Class 4A State Championship game in 2007 facing Indianapolis North Central. It’s probably the best high school basketball game I’ve ever seen. A tempestuous atmosphere.

E’Twaun battled against in-state phenom Eric Gordon. An epic battle for the history books. Gordon was the No.1 shooting guard in the 2007 recruiting class. He was also named Mr. Basketball that same year. Gordon later signed to play at Indiana and was a first-round pick after his freshman year.

Moore and Gordon went bucket for bucket.

In the end, E’Twaun won the battle. The four-star recruit and Parade Magazine All-American was also named to the Indiana All-Star team.

But Moore wasn’t the only top recruit in the “Region.”

After his senior season at EC Central, he signed to play under head coach Matt Painter at Purdue University joining Robbie Hummel, Scott Martin, and JaJuan Johnson as part of the nation’s top-five recruiting class.

Moore played AAU with Hummel and Martin prior to their arrival in West Lafayette.

As a Boilermaker, E’Twaun was sensational.

Moore led Purdue in scoring in 2008, 2009, and 2010. He garnered All-American honors and became the third player in Big Ten history to score 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 400 assists in a career.

He left Purdue as the third-highest scorer in program history trailing Purdue legend’s Rick Mount and Joe Carroll.

In 2011, E’Twaun’s NBA dream came true. He was selected in the second round with the 55th overall pick by the Boston Celtics. Afterward, he made stops in Orlando, Chicago, and now in New Orleans. Moore signed with the Pelicans in 2016.

Many NBA fans reading this might be thinking, “I’ve never heard of E’Twaun Moore.”

Some of you haven’t. But “Smooge” is well-known across the NBA and Northwest Indiana.

He’s one of the best basketball players in Northwest Indiana history.

From tough love on Guthrie Street to the NBA.

It can be done. Just ask E’Twaun.