Michael Moore and his family moved from Lagus, Niger in West Africa to New York City in 2017 for better opportunities and a brighter future. For the 6’10” teenager, that eventually turned into a chance to play basketball for the powerhouse Golden Eagles at Kennedy Catholic in Hermitage, PA.

In 2020, Michael and his family took a close look at SPIRE Institute & Academy in Geneva, OH. He has been attending the international boarding school and playing power forward on its basketball team for more than a year. Michael says SPIRE’s unique academic environment is helping him become more competitive as he seeks to improve his life even more with a college degree.

Michael’s basketball coaches say he is a strong presence and a leader on the floor. He’s fast, focused, and lethal from the foul line, with a talent for scoring, blocking and rebounding. The passion he brings to his game, however, can be a double-edged sword: the passion that drives him to work hard and win games can also lead to a level of intensity on and off the court that can look like impatience to his teammates.

Because SPIRE and Kennedy Catholic are only about an hour apart, the two teams have met on the court several times since his move. Michael says the two opponents definitely come to play, but seeing his former classmates and coaches, “who will always be family to him,” is always a welcome opportunity.