Simon Moschin hasn’t had a pronounced growth spurt since he joined Highland Park’s varsity team two years ago.
But don’t let the senior guard’s 5-foot-10-inch frame fool you. Moschin’s game has grown by leaps and bounds.
“I’ve always been undersized, but it’s never been too much of a factor in me being effective,” he said. “I know I’m never going to be the most athletic or biggest player out there. But it means a lot that my teammates trust me and put the ball in my hands.”
The Giants (7-2, 2-0) put the ball in Moschin’s hands for good reason. He’s averaging 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists this season.
Moschin has been particularly dominant recently. He scored a career-high 33 points in Highland Park’s Central Suburban North win against Vernon Hills on Dec. 6, had 27 points in a win against Addison Trail the next day, had 23 points in a win against Mundelein on Dec. 10 and had 22 points in a conference win against Maine East on Friday.
“We depend on him to do so much for us, and he always comes through,” Highland Park coach Ross Deutsch said. “He’s playing at a really high level, and he’s our hardest worker. Everything he does rubs off on others, whether it relates to work ethic or seeing how much he impacts a game.”
Moschin, who averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals last season, adds something new to his repertoire each season. So it seems like light years ago that catch-and-shoot 3-pointers were much of what Moschin attempted to do on the offensive end.
“His ability to score at all three levels makes him hard to defend,” Deutsch said.
Moschin makes a concerted effort to get into the paint.
“I’m smart and poised when I go in there because you can’t just run in there at my size,” he said. “I’m strong, going off two feet with purpose, and I use pump fakes to get guys off their feet.”
During Highland Park’s game on Friday, Maine East had a four-point lead at halftime. Moschin set the tone immediately in the third quarter when he got to the line for two free throws. He missed both, surprisingly, but his aggressive move signaled that he was about to take matters into his own hands. Moschin scored 16 of his 22 points in the third quarter, and the Giants won 54-43.
“One thing that three years of experience has taught me is that when the other team makes a run, I need to make a play, and other times I need to get my guys involved,” he said.
Moschin’s competitiveness stems from his love for the game. He says he’s a “basketball junkie” and credits his father, Adam, for that.
“There’s always a game on around the house, and he taught me how to weave basketball into other parts of my life,” Moschin said. “It’s given me the ability to use basketball to become comfortable in uncomfortable positions. That could be at a family gathering where I don’t know anyone or taking the SAT in another school.”
Highland Park senior guard Asher Diamond, who was one of three sophomores on the varsity team in 2022-23, has watched Moschin become comfortable as a leader.
“The biggest thing I’ve seen this year, which doesn’t correlate on the court, is how he’s stepped up his leadership,” Diamond said. “There’s a platform in place for him to create shots. But he’s totally bought in to the team. He helps create an environment where we’re invested in him, but he’s invested in us.”
That dynamic has helped the Giants, who haven’t had a winning season since 2019-20, turn the corner. They went 5-26 and 12-19 in the past two seasons.
“Getting better each day is the big goal,” Moschin said. “I’m so happy that I get to show up every day at practice and enjoy these next two months with my team. This year is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I just want to make every day count.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
