ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Ricky Moore and Will Avery have taken the court together hundreds of times since they were kids.
They'll do it one more time tonight, but it'll be unlike any of the other experiences they've shared.
Moore and Avery grew up in Augusta, Ga., and went to school together from elementary through high school. They have been teammates almost as long. Tonight, they'll go against each other in organized basketball for the first time, with a national title at stake.
Avery has seen his fill of stellar matchups this year, with Michigan State and Mateen Cleaves being the latest example. He's never had anything like this.
"In a national championship game, what better situation can you ask for?" Avery said.
Moore is two year's older than Avery, and the younger star says Moore was somewhat of a mentor growing up in Augusta. It was easy when they lived just a few houses apart.
Whether that meant learning how to play football, pick out new shoes or develop a jump shot, Avery enjoyed living in Moore's shadow.
"I thought he did a great job showing me the path to take," Avery said. "I really looked up to him. I even tried to model my game after him for a little while."
The two played a pair of seasons together back at Westside High, and in Moore's senior year of 1994-95, they led their team to a 33-1 record and the school's first Class AAA state title.
Avery was just a sophomore back then, four inches shorter and 30 pounds lighter then he is now, but the 6-foot-2 Moore relished the challenge every day in practice.
"It was memorable competing against him every day," Moore said. "I always wanted to compete and didn't want to play against other players in practice as much as I did him, because I knew that would make us a better team."
Moore is a much different player now than he was in high school. Mike Krzyzewski says the UConn swingman is unlike any defensive player he has coached because he can guard anyone on the perimeter. Moore himself has grown to accept his defensive role.
Back before he went to Connecticut, however, Moore was as much of an offensive threat as Avery. Since then, his scoring average has dipped each of the last two seasons and stands at 6.6 this year after Saturday's win.
"I was averaging 23 points per game, he was averaging 21 a game," Moore said of his Westside days. "It really didn't matter who brought the ball upcourt, we were both point guards and both good shooters, so it didn't really matter. Defensively, we both played good defense."
After Moore left for Connecticut in 1995, Avery stuck around for his own junior season and averaged 28 points before leaving for a year in Virginia at Oak Hill Academy. Avery still lives back in Georgia.
Both players said everyone in Augusta is either a Duke or Connecticut fan, though allegiance won't make a big difference tonight.
"It really doesn't matter who will be rooting for you back home," Moore said. "We'll be out on the court and have to handle our business out on the court."
Indeed, Avery is careful not to get into a personal battle with Moore in such a big game. There is a good chance, though, that Moore will guard his former teammate, and Avery might draw the same assignment when he's not assigned to defend UConn point guard Khalid El-Amin.
So what will Avery's reaction be when he steps out on the court and sees Moore in the Huskies blue?
"I don't even know him," he said. "After the game, 'Oh yeah, I grew up with you.'
"I'm not going to go out there just looking to attack Ricky, making it a personal thing. I'm playing for the national championship."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.