2025-26 Moore Catholic Season Preview
Moore Catholic High School is a private, Catholic school in the Bulls Head neighborhood of Staten Island, New York. It was founded by the Presentation Sisters of Staten Island in September 1962 and named for Mary Young Moore, a beneficiary to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Moore became co-educational in 1969. The school’s enrollment is about 400 students, evenly divided between males and females.
For 2025-26 Moore Catholic varsity boys basketball team will have a new head coach Todd Byrnes who was their former JV coach. He is coming off of a 3 peat CHSAA city championship run. Taking over for his father Tommy Byrnes who just 3 years ago lead this program to a city and state championship run. Byrnes’ teams have always been exciting to watch with their fast-paced offense and buckle-down defense. Coach Byrnes will be assisted by Gerald Novello and Chris Frayler. The team competes in the Catholic High School Athletic Association A South Division. MCHS really looks to make another title run this season with the coaching staff and player talent that they have coming into this season.
Leading the way are returning seniors who bring leadership and production on both ends of the floor: Their chemistry, toughness, and ability to play at a high level in big moments will be critical as the Mavericks look to build on recent success. Nick DeGrado, 5’10 point guard (3.5 gpa) who Coach Byrnes believes is agruably the best player on Staten Island right now. He is on track to surpass 1,000 point scored this season. He made the All CHSAA Team and the All Staten Island Team last year as a junior.
Matt Gibbons, 6’0 wing (3.5 gpa) and Eenej Vinson, a 6’3 wing, who has added a couple of inches and could be a surprise impact player for opponents. Returning starters Matt Mieles, a 6’0 guard and Alex Modica, a 6’2 wing are also reasons the Mavericks should be formidable this winter.
The rising junior class adds another layer of strength. Kyle Perez, a 5’10 point guard (3.8 gpa), returns after back-to-back city championships and brings poise, speed, and playmaking ability to the backcourt. In the frontcourt, Alex Raphael, 6’5 center (4.0 gpa), enters his second varsity season as a reliable presence inside, ready to take another step forward in his development. Issiyah Joseph, 6’0 guard
Moore Catholic also welcomes a pair of talented junior transfers: Arion Draga from Staten Island Academy and Calvin Cen from St. Joseph by the Sea. While Cen will sit out this season in accordance with CHSAA rules, both players represent a bright future for the program and add depth, skill, and competitive energy to practices right away.
Perhaps the most intriguing storyline of the offseason is the addition of Chris Tabansi, a 6’8 senior making his basketball debut after three standout years on the track. Tabansi’s elite athleticism and raw potential give the Mavericks a dynamic new dimension in the paint that could pay dividends as the season unfolds.