MOORE ON THE WAY: Hashim Moore heads up court in his post-graduate campaign for the Hun School boys’ basketball team in the 2012-13 season. Moore, who went on to play the last two seasons as a reserve forward for the Princeton University men’s basketball team, has switched to football. He is staying around basketball, though, by playing for King’s Pizzarama in the Princeton Recreation Department Summer Men’s Basketball League. Last Monday, he scored a game-high 21 points in a losing cause as King’s fell 58-50 to Belle Mead Physical Therapy. In other action on Monday, Aria Health defeated SAT Smart/Princeton Soup and Sandwich 60-51 and Bring Me Food topped Princeton Pi 66-56. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After helping the Hun School boys’ basketball team to the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title in 2013 as a post-graduate, Hashim Moore moved across town to join the Princeton University men’s hoops program.

Over the last two seasons, Moore filled a reserve role at small forward, making seven appearances as a freshman in 2013-14 and then getting into four games last winter, scoring a total of 15 points in 28 minutes of action.

This spring, the 6’5 Moore, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., decided it was time for a change in his sporting focus, leaving the basketball program to join the Princeton football team.

“It just wasn’t for me at the time,” said Moore, explaining his decision. “I am looking for an opportunity in football.”

Looking to play tight end for the Tigers, Moore is putting in some hard work this summer to get up to speed in his new sport.

“I have been here for a couple weeks now, doing 6 a.m. workouts every morning with the football guys who are here in the summer,” said Moore.

“I haven’t played football since middle school. I feel like I am athletic enough to do the switch. The coaches are working with me to help learn the plays and get bigger and stronger. I have gained 20 pounds (going from 220 to 240) since I did the switch.”

Moore, though, is staying in basketball by playing for King’s Pizzarama in the Princeton Recreation Department Summer Men’s Basketball League.

Last Monday, after arriving at the Community Park courts with football and King’s teammate, Anthony Gaffney, just after the team tipped off against Belle Mead Physical Therapy, Moore showed flashes of his hoops brilliance.

Coming off the bench, he scored 14 points in the first half, including 12 in a row in one stretch as King’s trailed Belle Mead 30-27 at half.

Reflecting on his first half outburst, Moore said his football training helped him get off to his sizzling start.

“I was being aggressive, the squats we had earlier today got my legs going,” said Moore.

In the second half, Moore chipped in seven more points to end up with a game-high 21 on the evening but it wasn’t enough as King’s fell 58-50.

Moore tipped his hat to Belle Mead, which got 17 points from Matt Johnston with Mike Rubayo chipping in 14 and Dan Reilly adding 13 as it improved to 5-4.

“Their ball movement was pretty good and they hit some big 3-point shots,” said Moore.

Although the loss dropped King’s to 3-5, Moore believes that the squad, which made it to the 2014 summer hoops championship series, can be dangerous in the league playoffs that start next Monday.

“We have a lot of talent on our team, we have a lot of quickness,” said Moore. “Defense is the key. We can score, it is just defense.”

But no matter how things turn out, Moore is enjoying his time on the court. “It is the opportunity to still play competitively a little bit,” said Moore.