After playing sparingly in his brief stint with the Denver Nuggets’ Summer League team, former University of North Florida star Dallas Moore signed a one-year contract Friday with Vuella Pesaro in the Italian League and will resume pursuit of his NBA dream next year.

Moore, UNF’s all-time leading scorer (2,437 points), played in only three of six summer-league games, scoring 28 points in 44 total minutes. He had 16 points in 19 minutes in Friday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans. His agent, Adam Godes, says going to Italy over likely playing in the NBA developmental G-league was a better option for Moore’s future.

"It’s really about creating the highest ceiling for Dallas financially and the highest floor," Godes said. ""It’s a significant job for a rookie from a mid-major school. It’s about setting up for financial success the next 10-15 years.

"The long-term goal is the NBA, but there’s a lot of things we can’t control. If you go to the G-league and don’t play well, there’s no upside. So go overseas and give yourself a chance to have a high-level job next year."

Pesaro, a first division team in the Italian League, has a limited number of American players and will likely sign only one or two other rookies. Moore, a 6-foot-1 point guard, will leave for Pesaro off the Italy coast in mid-August to start season preparations. Godes says his client plans to return to the NBA Summer League next year, but Moore will leave his options open to return to Europe.

"There was a strong chance Dallas wouldn’t have been offered a two-way contract [by Denver Nuggets]," said Godes. "So it’s better to get your name out there overseas and get to significant money in the future. Italy is a perfect fit. We told Dallas from the start that’s the place he’d go if he went overseas."

UNF coach Matthew Driscoll believes going to a Pesaro team that favors an up-tempo brand of basketball is Moore’s best option for now.

"NBA team scouts are in Europe all the time," Driscoll said. "Guys get to the NBA different ways. Dallas is taking a path that has a lot of merit. I know the team likes to playu fast, get up and down the floor with the lead guard. That’s right up Dallas’ alley."

Godes insists Moore isn’t giving up on the NBA. He’s just trying to ensure a more lucrative future overseas if the UNF product chooses to keep playing there in the next few years.

"This is a good start for him," said Godes. "It keeps the doors open for everything down the road. It sets him up for a top-tier job next season if he goes back to Europe. He’ll be back in [NBA] Summer League next year, for sure. We’ll see how he develops."

Gene.frenette@jacksonville.com: (904) 359-4540