A year ago, Ashaun Moore could do nothing but watch as John Marshall High rolled to the State Class 2 basketball title.

This season, the senior is in the middle of the action — albeit often as sixth man — as the Justices close in on their third straight state crown and fourth since 2018.

“He’s gotten back into the groove,” said JM Coach Ty White. “People forget Shaun started the last 12 games for us as a sophomore. A very versatile player, he’s a capable 3-point shooter and very active defensively in our press.”

A bouncy, rangy 6-foot-4 wing with a long-distance jump shot, Moore missed the entire 2022-23 season with a torn ACL.

This go-round he’s averaging nine points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals while hitting 34% from beyond the arc.

The North Siders headed into this week’s state tournament with a 13-game winning streak and overall 22-3 record. JM hasn’t lost since an upset at St. Christopher’s in early January.

JM rolled through the region play-offs, ousting Nottoway 105-23, Amelia 114-59 and Bruton 97-50.

“I’m 100% now,” Moore said of his ACL recovery. “My goal is to play hard defense and do whatever the team needs most.”

He enjoyed a bit of an advantage in the rehab program. His mother, Ashley Moore, is a certified athletic trainer with a “global” clientele, her son said.

“We spent a lot of early-morning and late-night sessions on my knee,” Moore said. Still, it cost him his junior season and spring and summer AAU play with Team Loaded.

As a result, his college recruitment has been less than expected for a front-line athlete on a state championship squad.

He said a prep school or junior-college route might be his travel itinerary to an eventual mid-major Division 1 scholarship.

Moore grew up in eastern Henrico and starred in basketball and football (as quarterback) at John Rolfe Middle School in Varina. He helped the school to county championships in both sports.

Upton entering JM, he totally switched focus with full concentration on hoops.

Coach White’s North Side juggernaut is on a historic run of success. The Justices are 116-14 since the 2018-19 season with three state titles (’20, ’22, ’23).

They’ll be looking to add another on March 7 at the Siegel Center.