Entrance Exam Score Keeps Moore on Sidelines : Football: Former Banning High player will sit out freshman season at Washington State and concentrate on school.

Brandon Moore, a two-time All-City Section defensive back at Banning High, said Thursday he will enroll at Washington State for the 1993-94 school year despite having to sit out the football season because of low test scores.

Moore cannot have any contact with the football team as a freshman and loses a year of eligibility because he failed to meet the requirements of Prop. 48. The NCAA rule stipulates that incoming freshmen must score at least 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test or 17 on the American College Test.

Moore said he took the ACT twice, scoring 16 on his final try. After talking with his parents, he decided to enroll at Washington State rather than attend a community college for two years.

“I’ll be able to focus on schoolwork and become situated with everything,” Moore said. “If I went to a (community college), I’d risk getting hurt. My parents agree with what I’m doing.”

Moore signed a letter of intent with Washington State, but he is not bound by that agreement because he failed to qualify for a scholarship.

Moore must complete 24 hours of college work and maintain a 2.0 grade-point average this school year to become eligible in 1994. He also must pay his own tuition and board. He said footing the bill for school will not be a hardship for his family.

Phil Earley, Washington State’s recruiting coordinator, said Moore will have access to academic assistance. Earley pointed out that two players who entered Washington State last year as Prop. 48 athletes, running back Frank Madu and defensive back Frank Russell, are eligible this season after maintaining better than 3.0 averages as freshmen.

“We feel Brandon can be successful both athletically and academically,” Earley said. “We can help him get on track academically.”

Moore’s athletic ability was never in question at Banning. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound strong safety was considered one of the nation’s top college prospects before the 1992 season, but his stock among recruiters reportedly dropped because of academic deficiencies. His only recruiting trips were to Washington State, Nevada and Arizona State. He canceled a trip to Nevada Las Vegas.

Moore blamed his low test scores on the educational system. He said his grade-point average in college core classes was better than 2.0, the minimum requirement for freshman eligibility.

“I can’t really say (the ACT) is unfair,” Moore said. “I can’t say it’s biased. It’s not like no blacks have ever passed the test. I was not given the educational skills to pass this test. I was not familiar with the stuff on the test.”

Moore said he will probably leave for Washington State next weekend. Fall classes begin Aug. 23.