Newsday Athlete of the Week is Elmont boys basketball's Cassius Moore

When people talk about the Elmont boys basketball team, they can’t help but think about Cassius Moore.

The senior guard is a leader for both his teammates and his community, and his ability on the court helped lead Elmont to a title trifecta this season: county, Long Island and state.

“It’s always all eyes on Cassius out there,” Elmont coach Ryan Straub said. “He had a big-time season for us, and he was really our leader as we got that state championship.”

Moore entered this season with a different sense of determination than ever before. Last year, Elmont’s season was cut short in the county semifinals against South Side. Moore said the team was crushed it wasn’t able to earn the county title it had worked so hard for.

“Coming off of that loss from last season really lit a fire under us,” Moore said. “We were in the gym the next day, ready to work even harder than before to get to where we wanted.”

He averaged 17.3 points per game during the regular season. He had a game-high of 29 points against Garden City in February.

“He really can put the ball in the hoop, that’s for sure,” Straub said. “He’s a great shooter and he’s great at attacking the rim, but he’s also able to create for others and make everyone better around him.”

Moore’s fire continued to burn in the playoffs. He averaged 19.4 points in seven games. In the state final against West Genesee, a 51-44 win for the Spartans, Moore had 24 points and eight rebounds. He was named the MVP of the Class AA final four.

“His performance was huge for us,” Straub said. “He did a lot of the little things that it takes to win on that big stage.”

Moore said that winning the state title after three years on the varsity was a special moment.

“It’s so special to be a part of this,” he said. “It’s only been done once before [in 2016] . . . Now our names are stamped in Elmont history.”

Straub said that Moore was able to take on a leadership role in his last season. “He’s a big role model for our younger guys,” he said. “They want to score the ball like he does, they want to have his swag, and they want to become the player he has.”

Not only is Moore a leader on the court, but he makes sure to dedicate time to helping his community. “We run basketball clinics and camps throughout the offseason, and he plays a pivotal role in helping the youth learn to love Elmont basketball and learn the game,” Straub said.

“It feels great being an inspiration to younger kids,” Moore said. “I’ve loved watching them grow as players the last few years.”

After having Moore for three seasons, Straub will miss many things about the star player.

“I’m going to miss his intensity, his energy, his ability to work hard every day,” Straub said. “I’m just really going to miss watching him as an Elmont Spartan.”