Moore commits to UCI

Darren Moore, a 6-foot-2 combo guard who began his men’s basketball career at Northern Colorado University, has verbally committed to transfer to UC Irvine, where he will be eligible for the 2008-09 season, Moore confirmed Thursday.

Moore, who starred at Ayala High in Chino Hills, will play at Citrus Community College this season, before accepting a scholarship at UCI, he said.

“I wasn’t comfortable at Northern Colorado,” said Moore, who averaged 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds as a freshman last season. He played in 28 games, starting three for the Bears, who play in the Big Sky Conference. He averaged 12.5 minutes per game.

The coach who recruited him to Northern Colorado, Craig Rasmussen, resigned before Moore arrived at the school, said Moore, who added that UCI was among the schools who recruited him out of high school.

“When I decided to come back [to California], UCI was one of the first schools I called,” Moore said. “Coach [Pat] Douglass is a real good coach, I already knew some guys on the team and I think I can bring something they need.”

“I’m comfortable whatever position they put me at,” Moore said. “I’m looking forward to playing at Citrus, which will give me another year to work on my game.”

As a senior at Ayala in 2005-06, Moore averaged 22.1 points, four rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.0 assists. He was the Sierra League Co-MVP and a second-team All-CIF Southern Section honoree for the second straight season.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.