The Journey: Michael Moreno
Scott County’s Michael Moreno is one of the most well known names in Kentucky basketball. Going all the way back to 6th grade, Michael has been one of the winningest players in state history. Even before missing half his Senior…
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Continue ReadingScott County’s Michael Moreno is one of the most well known names in Kentucky basketball. Going all the way back to 6th grade, Michael has been one of the winningest players in state history. Even before missing half his Senior season due to a broken foot, Moreno has posted an impressive career: 2,280 points, 1,231 rebounds, 253 blocks, 248 assists and 200 steals. That translates to a career average of 19 points and 10 rebounds on 58% shooting. Perhaps more impressively, Michael has carried a 4.0 GPA and scored a 28 on his ACT. I recently caught up with Michael to trace his journey all the way back to his early days in basketball and through his ultra-successful career that he hopes will end with cutting nets down at Rupp Arena next month. Here is Michael Moreno’s Journey:
What’s your earliest basketball memory? When did you realize you had so much love for the game?
Earliest memory I have of basketball is Little Slammers at the Pavilion in Georgetown. Tyler Hicks was my first coach which is ironic, considering I started under Coach Hicks’s son and now i’m under Coach Hicks. I realized I loved the game for the first time when I played my first AAU game.. I had a piano recital right before and I couldn’t focus because I was so excited to go play.
When did you think you were good enough to earn a college scholarship? What made you think that?
I thought I became good enough to earn a scholarship at the beginning of my sophomore year because I began to receive attention from high major schools and in the following months, Louisville and Indiana both came down to watch one of my workouts.
Is there one particular play or special game that stands out in your mind? Why does it mean more to you?
A game that will forever stick out in my mind is the Sweet 16 1st round game against Trinity my junior season.. It was arguably the best game I’ve ever played in. There were 15,300 people at that game and it was the loudest that I have ever heard people scream in my whole life. the roar of the crowd during starting lineups, the shot made by Cooper Robb, and the night of that game, we couldn’t quit talking about it. I will never forget it.
You’re one of the winningest players in Kentucky history going all the way back to even 6th grade. Does any one win stand out from the rest?
A win that stands above others is our win over Lexington Catholic my sophomore year. That was the win that sent me to my 1st Sweet 16. It was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had. I think then also I realized what it took to be a winner in the 11th Region because they never stopped fighting and continued to play hard and knock down tough shots time and time again.
If you could give basketball or life advice to younger you, what would it be and why?
If there was one piece of advice for me to give to my younger self, it’s to get in the gym more and take care of my body. I think those are the two most important things for a basketball player because you can never be too good and you should never play unless you’re 100%.
If a high school freshman asked you how to reach the next level, what would you tell them?
I would say first and foremost, never let anyone outwork you. Always be a great teammate. Listen to your coaches & be coachable. Play your hardest & make it to where you can never say that you had anything left after each game.