Rad Moreno '23 Recruiting Profile

IMG Academy 1^st year post-Grad 2023-2024! I am beginning my recruitment process for the fall of 2024-2025 and am excited to share information that I feel is important for coaches to know. I have been a multi-sport athlete since elementary school with professional training in basketball, baseball, and weightlifting. I have played Basketball, Baseball, Football and Taekwondo through the years however for the last few years had a specific focus on playing Basketball.

I played Varsity Basketball in high school and earned the role as team captain for my junior and senior year. I worked hard and became a solid, dependable starting small forward, I don’t recall a game where I did not start. I was voted the Ellenville High School Varsity Most Valuable Player in 2022 and 845 Player of the week in the Times Herald Record from February 6-12, 2023. I played numerous games with double-double wins averaging about 14 points per game with 36 games played according to MaxPreps in my junior and senior year of high school.  

The 2019 COVID pandemic greatly impacted my ability to play and train as it did for many other athletes however that experience gave me time to focus on my academics and gave me much more determination to play division I basketball at the collegiate level.  I feel that I am a good candidate as a college athlete in the future due to my work ethic, drive, discipline, and passion. I always give 100% and always play to win. I treat every day, like it is game day. I have greatly improved as a student athlete over the last few years and believe that the program at IMG Academy will help me further develop so that I can successfully play college basketball. I have played on my AAU teams and Summer & Fall Leagues as well as playing with adults at gyms and parks in the area, which has helped me be more comfortable with different styles, player sizes and athletic abilities.

I was drafted for a NCAA Division II basketball program with Alliance University for the fall of 2023 semester however the college unexpectedly lost their accreditation shortly after I had committed, therefore I was unable to attend which was the deciding factor for me to attend IMG Academy for a post-grad year. It was necessary for me to quickly adjust my college plans in a short period of time which made me see my own strength, resiliency and determination as quickly develop a new plan in line with my collegiate goal of playing division I basketball. I was able to rebound, make a fast and effective decision and make a new play, similar, to how I play my position in basketball.

          I am a complete basketball player with many strengths. I value my individual skills and believe in the value of team plays, strong defense, and rebounding. I feel that making other players around me better is a vital part of being a good player and having a strong team which I demonstrated as a varsity high school team caption. A team caption is an important leadership role and offered me the opportunity to bring the team together during games and serve as a role model both on and off the court. I was the student of the month in December 2022 as I supported a peer who was in crisis, again demonstrating my concern for others and ability to be responsible when faced with problems.  

I have played on many basketball teams including varsity high school, summer and fall leagues, AAU teams and have always adapted well to different teams with a variety of players and coaches. I have played all 5 positions on the court at times due to my combination of height, ball handling ability and need of the team. I pride myself on being able to handle diversity and adapt to my team and coaches needs to play hard and win the game. My hope in this next year to attend games and showcases where I can show what I can my ability against high level competition.

My goal is to play division I college basketball to help me get a college education. I am confident that basketball will be a part of my future and believe it can help me to open doors that will help me later in life as there are many transferable skills in sports. My academic collegiate goal is to major is business and earn a Master’s in Business Administration as this field will help build a life in which I will either play or operate a business always remaining connected to the sport of basketball which gives me purpose and motivation.