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LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Malachi Moreno has withdrawn his name from the 2026 NBA Draft ahead of the May 27 deadline and will return to Kentucky for his sophomore season.
The 6-foot-11 center went through the NBA draft process this offseason, participating at the combine, and working out for the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Memphis Grizzlies before ultimately deciding to return for another year at UK.
The Georgetown, Ky native appeared in all 36 games last season, with 30 of those appearances being starts. Moreno averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game on his way to being named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
In the transfer portal era of college athletics, sometimes the best roster moves you can make are just retaining players you already have, and UK Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mark Pope agrees.
“Malachi Moreno was the number one priority for us going into this portal season,” Pope said. “We think that he’s going to be the best center in all of college basketball next year here at Kentucky.”
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