Moore eager to get back on court after ACL injury: Handley grad weighing options between Shepherd and LFCC

By Tommy Keeler Jr. -- tkeeler@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- The wait for Chad Moore is almost over.

The 2007 Handley grad has gone through his share of ups and downs, but he soon will be back on the court playing college basketball. Moore received a scholarship to play at Shepherd College next year, but he also is considering another option.

"It's not a definite," Moore said at an open gym at Daniel Morgan Middle School on Saturday. "It's not a done deal. I may sit out another year. [Shepherd] has a lot of returning players, so I may wait a year."

If Moore decides to wait, he may attend Lord Fairfax Community College and play for the newly established LFCC Cannons. If he plays for the Cannons, he would not lose any eligibility as LFCC is not yet sanctioned by the NCAA.

"I'm going to sit down with my family and [LFCC] coach [Chris] Graham and decide what to do and what's best for me," Moore said. "If I'm not going to play I might as well go to Lord Fairfax and save my year of eligibility."

Moore said he doesn't have a timetable to make his decision and he hasn't enrolled at either school yet.

It's been a long road for Moore, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a tryout at Hagerstown Community College in October 2007.

It was the first serious injury the Handley standout had ever endured.

"It was tough," Moore said. "Going through that has really made me appreciate the game."

Moore was told by doctors that it would take 11 months before he could return to the court, but he was determined to get back faster. It took him only seven months before he began playing again with a knee brace.

After tearing the ACL, Moore transferred to LFCC and focused on academics. He has worked hard on his game since then to get back on the court and play again.

Moore said Graham helped him a lot through the whole process and was the one who helped him get a tryout at Shepherd. Graham knows Shepherd head coach Justin Namolik and said the Rams had been interested in Moore since high school.

In April, Moore tried out for the Shepherd coaches along with 19 others, but the Rams were only giving scholarships to three of them.

"It was tough knowing the situation," Moore said. "It worked out."

"I was so happy for him to get that opportunity," Graham said. "He really put a lot of time in and worked hard on his game."

Last year the Rams went 12-15 and they should return eight of their 12 players. Moore is one of four players who signed letters of intent to play at Shepherd for the 2009-2010 season.

While at Handley, Moore made a big impact on the Judges. He led them to a 22-4 record during his senior season. Moore, The Northern Virginia Daily's 2007 Boys Basketball Player of the Year, averaged 19.1 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.2 blocks per game as a senior.

Graham, who coached Moore at Daniel Morgan Middle School, said Moore always has been a special player.

"I think he is one of the better athletes to have come through this area," Graham said. "I just don't think he got some of the exposure that someone like [Millbrook standout and Virginia Tech signee] Erick Green received. Chad has a real joy for the game and he is a joy to watch."

Whatever Moore decides to do about the upcoming season, he intends to play at Shepherd at some point and looks forward to it.

"It's definitely something I've always wanted to do," Moore said. "I'm real excited to play basketball at that level."

"When the day does come that he puts on that Shepherd uniform, it's going to mean a lot to him because he's come through so much," Graham said.