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Player Profile: Zaelinh Nguyen-Moore (Altoona, PA)

 

Name: Zaelinh Nguyen-Moore

Hometown: Altoona, Pennsylvania

Height: 5-7

Position: Point Guard

High School: Altoona

Graduation Class: 2026

AAU Club: Sideline Cancer Select 40

GPA: 4.3

Offers: Delaware, St. Francis

Status: Uncommitted


ALTOONA, PA -- Zaelinh Nguyen-Moore (Zay·lynn + New·in + More) is a 5-7 Point Guard from Altoona, Pennsylvania. She's currently a freshman at Altoona Area High School, and runs with Sideline Cancer on the Select 40 circuit. Nguyen-Moore was one of the top freshmen in the Mid-Penn Conference, who was recently named to PennLive’s Off-the-Radar team for newcomers and improved players this past season.

The RPN Factory strives to host high character basketball players, so Nguyen-Moore was an unanimous choice to invite. She's a 4.0 student, puts full effort into her work on the court and I've heard nothing but great things about Nguyen-Moore. It's always a delight being recommended to players as her teammate and RPN alum, Harley McGirk put in a great word for her. Walking her through the process has been an easy transition, and I cannot wait for y'all to see how her career pans out.

I caught up with the 2026 prospect on growing up in Altoona, a breakdown of her game and preparation heading into sophomore year.

Breakdown

Strengths:
Athletic Guard
  • "One of Nguyen-Moore's positives is she's a helluva athlete. You rarely see freshman players getting aggressive on the court, but the 2026 isn't afraid to attack you. Getting up to speed in transition, a quick first step off the dribble or even putting her shoulder into you on both sides of the ball, Nguyen-Moore played varsity as a freshman for a reason. She's a gamer."

(Trustworthy) Ball Handler
  • "Nguyen-Moore is a point who continued to grow as the season went on. Taking lead guard responsibilities off Altoona's splash sisters, Lanie Wilt and Melana Eyer, she's a crucial reason why Altoona has one of the best offenses in the Mid-Penn. One thing to point out, Nguyen-Moore wastes no time in warmups with ball handling. She will go right to her spot near the bench and pound the rock to get a feel for it. I would trust her as a coach to lead my team."

Confidence
  • "I've seen 2025's such as Olivia Jones and Avery Hjelmstad pop off in their rookie seasons. But, although Nguyen-Moore is on her own path, she has continued to grow every single game in her first year. From getting comfortable scoring at all three levels to forming chemistry with standout Brooklyn Barron, her future is bright if she keeps playing to a standard."

Leadership
  • "In this day and age where players are afraid to lead, Nguyen-Moore changes the narrative. Seeing how she communicates to pick her teammates up in close games is something you can't ask for as a coach. Even away from the court, the way she provides herself in academics is something every kid should strive for. We need more young leaders in these times and Nguyen-Moore is doing it the right way."


Natural Born Playmaker
  • "The best part of Nguyen-Moore's game. The girl is one of the sneakiest playmakers that doesn't get talked about enough. With how she passes at 15, you would think you're seeing flashbacks of the Hopkins' version of Paige Bueckers. Well, that may be a stretch, but Nguyen-Moore's IQ is very high at her age. She's a very unselfish lead guard who's always looking for the best shot possible in finding the open teammate, and can play off the ball. She was built to play this game."

Improvements
Being more aggressive as a scorer
  • "Nguyen-Moore is on pace to become a solid player, but she can be a great one if she starts to get more aggressive. Being a pass-first player has pros and cons as you are very unselfish, but sometimes can be a little too nice. Nguyen-Moore will need to look to get more aggressive in her skillset: double-moves into a shot, use of jabs and ball fakes, and attacking weaker defenders. If she grows more confident, it's a wrap for anybody."

Defensive IQ
  • "Nguyen-Moore is a go-getter on defense. She can play on the ball, and scrap in the paint as a guard. She did have over 100 rebounds as a varsity starting freshman for reference. But, once she adds the IQ to that end of the floor, the game will come much easier to her. Hand placement on the deny, sliding her feet better on Altoona's trap schemes in the press or not baiting herself into early fouls. If she becomes a student of the game on defense, her stock will grow."

Shooting
  • "Nguyen-Moore showed glimpses of hitting from beyond the arc, but this is the biggest thing she will need to work on this offseason. Every young person struggles with shooting the rock at first, so this is not the first case. Adding more to her shot creation will do her wonders though. Getting into rhythm off the catch going straight up-and-down from three, working the pick-and-roll to understand reads or even pulling up in timely situations. If Nguyen-Moore adds a consistent jumper, it's a wrap. Don't say I didn't tell you so."


Zaelinh Nguyen-Moore Interview
When did you first start playing basketball?
  • "I was introduced to the game of basketball the summer before kindergarten. At the time I, lived in Maryland, and my sister was in second grade. There was a league that my dad suggested I play in with my sister to get the feel of the game. Ever since I’ve learned to love it."

Editor's note: It explains why she showed no fear against upperclassmen this season.

Describe your game from the skill standpoint.

  • "As a player of the game, looking at myself and assessing from a skill standpoint. I see myself as someone, you’d say, as a player that you’d want to play with. More importantly, want to be a teammate with. I create opportunities for not only myself, but the players along my side by dishing out to them for the open shot. I feel that my IQ for the game has developed tremendously, and helps me a lot when needing to see the floor. Although, I do find myself getting down low, and grabbing any rebound I can. I am a fan of defense, and will give it my best effort to guard whoever I’m put up against."


I’ve been told that you moved around a lot growing up. From your perspective, how has your life experience shape you into the person you are now?

  • "I’d say it’s definitely shaped me for sure. It’s made me tougher. As a kid you grow up wanting to make friends, have play dates with those friends, and even playing basketball with most of them. Although I grew up always wanting that, sometimes I didn’t get to have the play date or the new teammate due to moving again. This has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of new people. A majority of my childhood was spent in Altoona and it has been great. I’ve made so many great friends and teammates. Even when having to leave an area and move somewhere new, it was hard for me. I've always learned to find a way to remember that the people or the place aren’t gone. I can always see them another day."

How was your first year experience at Altoona?
  • "Honestly it was pretty good. As apart of this year's freshman class, coming to the high school was definitely nerve racking. Academically and athletically. Although it was nerve racking, Altoona helps welcome new students and the students coming up very well. There were so many opportunities for me to get involved in things I found an interest in clubs, sports, classes, and more. Overall, I’d say this year taught me a lot of things and was a great beginning."

How was your freshman basketball season?
  • "My freshman year was definitely an experience. I came up super nervous not knowing what role I was gonna play on this team. If I’d even get a spot on varsity. The older classes above me knew who I was, and welcomed me in like I’ve been on the team for years. I then got to the point where I had a bit of a slump or even a rough start. I grew up most of the time playing with people the same age as me, and going to high school to then compete with seniors, it hit me. I doubted myself and wasn’t confident in who I was as a player. One game I just turned that corner, and decided I couldn’t have the mindset of a freshman. I immediately told myself that I had to become mentally, physically, and emotionally tougher. My teammates helped with this process tremendously, and I couldn’t thank them enough, as I now call them my family."

Editor's advertisement/note: The RPN strives to create a safe space for all players to be themselves, but to help improve the aspects of their game. I'm glad Zaelinh is here and can accept that she wasn't at her best or struggled. If you're not uncomfortable and realize your mistakes within those lines, you will never grow as a person.

You’re still at a very early stage of your career. What kinds of things are you doing to make yourself the best player you can be?
  • "Before my high school career started, I trained with my dad. He’s a very big part of me as a player. He’s helped me become the player and person I am today. Some days were tougher than others, but before high school we would work on skill based things. Working on getting me to the best of my abilities before the season started. As the season progressed, we did more scenarios based workouts. These workouts would include what I could do better, having trouble doing in the previous game, work towards for the next game and more. As our season has now come to an end, the workouts will be different than before. I planned to work extremely hard to better myself for next season and the seasons to come."

Who's your favorite basketball player and why?
  • "If I had to pick my favorite basketball player right now, I’d have to go with Angel Reese. I’ve recently seen her playing due to her and Aaliyah Boston blowing up because of their game. Not only is Angel Reese a fantastic basketball player, but she stands up for herself and women’s sports. A little while ago there was a tweet on how she was trash talking and how it was considered 'ghetto' and 'hood'. Angel responds to these tweets as saying that this is only said due to her being a women. She then says what’s wrong with a women being passionate about the game. This inspires me to be proud to be a woman playing in this time and age. It inspires me to want to grow and prove everyone that’s doubting us, 'women', wrong."

Who's your role models?
  • "My role models would definitely be my parents. I’ve never seen two people work as hard as they do to provide for their kids. My dad has been my right hand man since I could remember. He grew up loving sports, and loving the game of basketball. This also plays into the factor of why I started basketball so early. He helped me fall in love with the game. My mom, she’s a whole different story. She’s never really been a die heart sports fan, but as soon as I fell in love with basketball she did too. She is the most supportive, and loving person in my life. Any way I decide to go, she’ll always be right by my side. Most importantly though, aside from basketball, my parents have taught me how to be the person I am. They’ve taught me how important it is to truly treat others right, care for the community, and respect those older than you. They have taught me how to become a better person."

Who will you be running with on the circuit this offseason?
  • "I will be running with Sideline Cancer."

It’s never too early to start thinking. As you’re now at the age where you’re looking and playing for college opportunities, what do you ideally look for in a school?
  • "Looking into college, I look for a school that best fits me. That includes the future me as well. I look for a great school academically and athletically that best fits my future career. I also look for a school that is willing to help me throughout my schooling to make college easier on me as a student."

What are your expectations heading into sophomore year?
  • "What I expect for myself going into my sophomore season is to grow. I know saying just to grow sounds pretty basic, but I mean grow to a whole new level. I expect my game to be tremendously different when I come back. I plan to work on everything I struggled with the season especially the mental aspects of the game such as confidence. I plan to walk into next year as a major player in the mid penn conference, maybe even further than that."

Thank you Zaelinh for taking the time to talk with me this afternoon. Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation for people? Any last words?
  • "Just be you. Never let the pressure of others opinions change you as a player. More importantly, don’t let it change you as a person. Thank you for this!"

Zaelinh Nguyen-Moore - 2026

2022-2023 Altoona Mountain Lions

The Mountain Lions hoisting their District 6 6A championship after a 61-35 win over Mifflin County, February 24, 2023


Media Coverage on Zaelinh Nguyen-Moore

Meet the Mid-Penn ‘Off-the-Radar’ All-Stars: Girls who emerged and made a name for themselves in 2023 https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/2023/04/meet-the-mid-penn-off-the-radar-all-stars-girls-who-emerged-and-made-a-name-for-themselves-in-2023.html

Twitter @Zaemoore12


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Location: Altoona, PA, USA