How Moffatt Became A Champion

There came a time when Ryan Moffatt ’24 realized that if he wanted more minutes on the basketball court, he had to do whatever the team needed to win.

Therefore, after spending most of his freshman year on the bench, the Lancaster, Pa., native returned to Colgate the following fall eager to prove he could help the Raiders.

“I had to find a way to get on the court,” Moffatt said. “I knew I wasn’t going to get on the court by scoring lots of points. I knew that wasn’t my role. I was trying to bring anything I felt the team needed, whether that was a little bit of defense, moving the ball on offense, getting someone else open, or setting a screen for one of our shooters.

“I tried to recognize what the team needed to win games.”

It was a critical moment in his Colgate career. By identifying his role with the team, Moffatt became a reliable and versatile player who did whatever Head Coach Matt Langel asked of him. As a result, Moffatt rose from a bench player to a permanent starter who went on to win three consecutive Patriot League championships.

Colgate’s dynasty run was achieved with contributions from several student-athletes who were not highly-sought recruits in high school, but blossomed into stars for the Raiders — with Moffatt being one of them. 

As a 6-foot-7 forward, Moffatt garnered little interest from D-I programs in high school. Colgate, intrigued by his versatility and winning background, gave him a chance. 

But he had to wait for his opportunity. 

Most of his first year was spent on the bench in large part because he played the same position as Will Rayman ’20, who’s regarded as one of the best players in program history. 

When Moffatt returned the following season as a sophomore, Rayman had graduated, leaving his position up for grabs. Moffatt, having spent the summer working on all aspects of his game, seized the opportunity. 

When the season began, Moffatt earned a spot in the starting lineup. He would go on to start every game that season and in every season that followed. 

Today, as Moffatt prepares for his fifth and final season, he has transformed by leaps and bounds since his first year.

While others have carried the responsibility of being the team’s primary scorer, Moffatt has become an exceptional outside shooter. His career three-point shooting percentage of .441 ranks third in Patriot League history. It also puts him second nationally among active D-I players.

Last season, he averaged 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. His 51 steals were second on the team. He averaged 30.6 minutes per game.

But there’s more. His stout defense has made him a staple of Langel, especially in crunch time. He does the little things around the court that can help a team win. He follows a team-first mentality, which the program demands from anyone in a maroon and white uniform.

Moffatt is also a three-time conference champion.

And now, with the 2023-24 season right around the corner, Moffatt’s transformation was evident yet again when he was named to the 2023 Preseason All-Patriot League team, his first such honor.

From taking countless shots at practice to improving his fitness, Moffatt’s achievements were made possible through tireless work. He credits the coaches for the many hours they devoted to making him a better player, especially Assistant Coach Pat Moore.

“I did a lot of extra shooting with coach Moore,” he said. “That helped me from my freshman year to sophomore year. It helped me become a better shooter and more confident. Half the battle with shooting is confidence. That opened up a lot of my game.”

In addition, Moffatt attributes his success to playing alongside exceptional Raiders like Rayman, Nelly Cummings ’22, Tucker Richardson ’22, Jack Fergurson ’22, and Keegan Records ’23.

“Everyone draws so much attention that you can’t guard everybody,” he said. “I knew that when I got open, I needed to make teams pay. That’s what I’ve been doing.”

Confidence was another significant factor in his success. As Moffatt continued earning more minutes in his sophomore year, his confidence on both sides of the court took off. 

But there was no bigger moment for Moffatt than a game versus Loyola with the 2020-21 Patriot League championship on the line. 

Not only did the Raiders win the title, but Moffatt put on a performance that would go on to change his career at Colgate.

A CAREER GAME

Moffatt’s job wasn’t going to be easy. 

When the Raiders learned that Loyola was their opponent, it was up to Moffatt to guard the Greyhounds’ star player, Santi Aldama, who would go on to be drafted by the Utah Jazz.

Aldama was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 21 points a game. He torched opponents in the playoffs, and put up 33 points against Army in the semifinals. 

But against Colgate, with Moffatt dogging him around the court, Aldama finished with 13 points.

The game gave Moffatt an enormous boost in confidence. While happy with his performance, it helped a great deal knowing he could play against top competition, and that he had earned the trust of his teammates and coaches. Moffatt played the entire second half.

“That was a really important game,” Moffatt said. “Even today, that was one of my best overall games I played. It propelled me for the next couple of years.”

Moffatt took an unconventional route to playing college basketball.

In high school, he drew interest from D-II and D-III programs but held out in hopes of a chance at playing at the highest level. Colgate was the only D-I program to make him an offer, but coaches wanted him to develop a little more before he joined the program. 

As a result, Moffatt played a year at a prep school, which was not an easy choice. While his friends moved on to college, Moffatt stayed home for an extra year of high school. Moffatt said he has no regrets. 

“It’s definitely a decision I would not take back,” he said. “I definitely made a great decision.”

In high school, he earned two MVP honors and had an ability to do things that helped his team win games. 

“The best thing about Ryan Moffatt is he’s always been a winning basketball player,” Langel said. “Even though there were no other teams recruiting him, he did a lot of little things that helped his team win.”

When Moffatt joined Colgate, Langel said he didn’t expect he’d become a double-figure scorer who averaged over 30 minutes per game and shot over 40 percent from behind the arc. But he expected him to improve and develop.

“Over his four-plus years in college, he’s improved and he’s improved because he’s an extremely hard worker,” Langel said. “He’s a dedicated teammate. He’s very coachable.”

Moffatt, an economics and educational studies major, is still figuring out his future after Colgate. He hopes to play basketball overseas. 

Looking back at his Colgate career, Moffatt said it has gone better than he could have imagined. He’s loved his courses and has experienced many special moments with the basketball team. 

“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “When you commit to a school, you get a sense for the coaching staff and campus. But you never really know how you’re going to get along with your teammates. But I couldn’t imagine a better experience from my freshman year all the way through.”