McNeese State adds Syracuse transfer to roster

Guard Elijah 'Choppa' Moore commits to Cowboys, joining other Power 5 transfers

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:28am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented movements of a basketball player, rendered in a palette of navy, gold, and crimson, capturing the energy and dynamism of the sport.McNeese State's roster rebuild continues with the addition of another high-profile transfer, underscoring the program's ambitions to compete at the highest level.Lake Charles Today

McNeese State head coach Bill Armstrong has landed another transfer from a Power 5 program, securing a commitment from former Syracuse guard Elijah 'Choppa' Moore. Moore, a 6-foot-4 guard, played two seasons with the Orange, averaging 5.2 points per game as a freshman. He later transferred to Utah but played just one game before leaving the team. Moore joins Washington transfer Christian Nitu and Vanderbilt freshman Jaylon Dean-Vines as new additions to the Cowboys' roster.

Why it matters

McNeese State is looking to build on a successful 28-6 season under first-year head coach Bill Armstrong. By adding experienced transfers from Power 5 programs, Armstrong is aiming to further strengthen the Cowboys' roster and compete for a conference title in the Southland.

The details

Elijah 'Choppa' Moore, a 6-foot-4 guard, spent two seasons at Syracuse, where he averaged 5.2 points per game as a freshman. He later transferred to Utah but played just one game before leaving the team. Moore is the third Power 5 transfer to commit to McNeese State this offseason, joining Christian Nitu from Washington and Jaylon Dean-Vines from Vanderbilt.

  • Moore played two seasons at Syracuse from 2024-2026.
  • Moore transferred to Utah for the 2026-2027 season but played only one game.
  • Moore has now committed to play for McNeese State for the 2027-2028 season.

The players

Elijah 'Choppa' Moore

A 6-foot-4 guard who spent two seasons at Syracuse, where he averaged 5.2 points per game as a freshman, before transferring to Utah for one game and now committing to play for McNeese State.

Bill Armstrong

The head coach of the McNeese State Cowboys, who is rebuilding the roster with several high-profile transfers from Power 5 programs.

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What they’re saying

“Elijah is a talented guard who will be a great addition to our team. His experience at the Power 5 level will be invaluable as we continue to build a championship-caliber program.”

— Bill Armstrong, Head Coach, McNeese State Cowboys

What’s next

Moore will have two years of eligibility remaining when he joins the McNeese State roster for the 2027-2028 season.

The takeaway

McNeese State is aggressively rebuilding its roster under coach Bill Armstrong, landing a third high-profile transfer from a Power 5 program in Elijah 'Choppa' Moore. These additions should help the Cowboys build on their successful 28-6 campaign last season and compete for a Southland Conference title.