Larry Moon transferred from Aliquippa to Central Catholic before his freshman season, and after a standout season, he’s heading home.
Moon told Pittsburgh Sports Now that he, and teammate Sa’Nir Brooks, are transferring back to Aliquippa to continue his academic and athletic career. It’s a notable movement in the landscape of WPIAL football.
“I loved Central Catholic,” Moon told PSN Friday night. “I love everything about it. I’m sad I can’t be there any longer. The school was challenging, and I do believe it was gonna help me stay prepared for the next level. Me and my pops talked about Dr. Woods and what he has done with the education back home. We both like what direction the education is going.
“I do feel like Aliquippa can prepare me for the college classroom. Being back home is just easier all around. I live three blocks from the school, so no more 45-minute rides in the morning to get to school. My dad is still recovering from his injury from work. So, I know me being back at home takes pressure off of him. I think me being there was taking a toll on my dad financially because he hasn’t been working because of his injury. I’m back home, and I’m happy with this as well.”
Moon and Brooks, who Moon said are like brothers as they live together, are both Aliquippa natives. And both are looking like Division I athletes. The pair served as instant impact freshmen at Central Catholic last season and should immediately step in as contributors at Aliquippa.
Moon, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound cornerback in the class of 2027, currently holds offers from Akron, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Pitt, South Carolina, Tennessee, Temple, UCF, UNLV, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Brooks, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound athlete in the class of 2027, picked up his first collegiate offer from Akron.
Aliquippa, of course, will be competing in the WPIAL 5A classification over the next two seasons, having been moved from 4A to 5A by the PIAA’s competitive balance formula. The Quips appealed the PIAA’s decision but ultimately lost, and it will be the toughest test yet for the WPIAL powerhouse.
“It takes away from our kids’ hard work and their accomplishments,” Warfield said earlier in January on the reclassification. “It gives the impression the only reason Aliquippa is winning is because of transfers, which is totally inaccurate. That bothers me the most because our kids do everything we ask them to do. Everything that adults in society tell our kids to do, to work hard and you’ll be rewarded, and they do that. And it seems like the more they work, the more they’re being punished.”
Aliquippa, which has a Class-2A enrollment, will be competing with schools many times its size in 2024 and 2025 because of the success on the field and what the PIAA deemed as transfers entering the program.
Moon and Brooks were two players who initially transferred away, but they will now be returning home to help the Quips attempt to continue winning in 5A.
Will be ineligible for the playoffs correct? Also hope quip doesn’t keep winning because they will be in 6A, already have 2 transfers…..
I know what you mean, but given their history, I do believe they will continue to win. It’s the culture.
Doing it before 10th grade year begins so should be eligible. Will still count against Quip as a transfer for next cycle but guessing not too worried.
If they keep moving them up, their only choice will be to entertain transfers. These young men have a 30 man roster and still dominate. It’s incredibly inconceivable that so called “officials” would choose to harass this program that is the epitome of hard work and commitment.