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LEXINGTON — Malachi Moreno announced May 25 he'd be back for another season with the Kentucky basketball program.
When the 7-foot, 245-pound center revealed in April he'd explore the NBA draft process, the expectation was Moreno simply was using it to receive feedback. There was little thought he'd entertain the possibility of remaining in the draft.
Speaking with reporters Thursday for the first time since his announcement, Moreno said weighing a return to college hoops versus leaving for the pros was "a pretty difficult decision" for himself and his inner circle.
"I was talking with my brother and my agent every single day, just kind of handling what they were hearing, the kind of feedback they were getting," Moreno said. "One day, we got some of the feedback, and you're like, 'You know what? It might be in our favor to go back and really improve this next year and really become ... the best All-American center in the country. And then really just have that for next year.
"I think next year is my year."
Music to the ears of the Wildcats' fan base. Before Moreno's return for Year 2 became official, UK fans had entered meltdown mode, pondering the unexpected loss of a player viewed as one of the most important pieces of the 2026-27 roster.
Moreno said he was aware of the uproar.
"But at the same time, I was kind of staying off social media at that point," he said. "It was in my best interest, because I wanted my full focus to be in that process. And then once it was time to make my decision, I kind of turned back on social media.
"Then when I said I was coming back, I had to put away my phone for a couple days, I'm not gonna lie."
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball's Malachi Moreno talks decision to leave NBA draft
Continue reading...
When the 7-foot, 245-pound center revealed in April he'd explore the NBA draft process, the expectation was Moreno simply was using it to receive feedback. There was little thought he'd entertain the possibility of remaining in the draft.
Speaking with reporters Thursday for the first time since his announcement, Moreno said weighing a return to college hoops versus leaving for the pros was "a pretty difficult decision" for himself and his inner circle.
"I was talking with my brother and my agent every single day, just kind of handling what they were hearing, the kind of feedback they were getting," Moreno said. "One day, we got some of the feedback, and you're like, 'You know what? It might be in our favor to go back and really improve this next year and really become ... the best All-American center in the country. And then really just have that for next year.
"I think next year is my year."
Music to the ears of the Wildcats' fan base. Before Moreno's return for Year 2 became official, UK fans had entered meltdown mode, pondering the unexpected loss of a player viewed as one of the most important pieces of the 2026-27 roster.
Moreno said he was aware of the uproar.
"But at the same time, I was kind of staying off social media at that point," he said. "It was in my best interest, because I wanted my full focus to be in that process. And then once it was time to make my decision, I kind of turned back on social media.
"Then when I said I was coming back, I had to put away my phone for a couple days, I'm not gonna lie."
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball's Malachi Moreno talks decision to leave NBA draft
Continue reading...
