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LEXINGTON — Malachi Moreno is back.
The Kentucky basketball big man announced on social media Sunday night he would withdraw his name from the NBA draft and return to UK for his sophomore season.
It was critical news for coach Mark Pope and the Wildcats, who anxiously awaited Moreno's decision.
At one point, it was viewed as a foregone conclusion Moreno would be back for another go-round with the Cats. But as rumblings started circulating he might be a first-round pick, the possibility he would be Kentucky's latest one-and-done draftee increased.
Now, the 6-foot-11, 243-pound center will try to build off his stellar freshman campaign.
He played in all 36 games, with 30 starts. Moreno paced the Wildcats in rebounds (6.3) and blocks (1.47) per game; his blocks average ranked eighth among SEC players. Additionally, his three double-doubles and field goal percentage (58.2%, 96 for 165) were two more team highs in 2025-26.
Moreno had a career-high 18 points in a win over Valparaiso in November, while his best rebounding effort was 11 on three occasions (Tennessee Tech on Nov. 26, at Florida on Feb. 14 and at South Carolina on Feb. 24). He logged a personal-best five blocks in a home victory over Texas in January. He also displayed his knack for distributing, recording four (or more) assists in five games.
Moreno earned the conference's Freshman of the Week award March 2 after averaging 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in wins over South Carolina and Vanderbilt the prior week.
By the end of the season, Moreno landed on the league's all-freshman team.
Moreno was the first commitment of the Wildcats' 2025 recruiting class. He picked Kentucky over his other seven finalists — Arkansas, Indiana, Louisville, Iowa, Ohio State, North Carolina and Notre Dame — during a ceremony at Great Crossing High School's gym in August 2024.
Moreno was a unanimous four-star prospect, per the national recruiting datebases: Rivals, 247Sports, ESPN and On3. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Moreno was the No. 25 recruit nationally in the 2025 class. He was the country's No. 2 center and the top-ranked prospect in Kentucky.
Moreno was a McDonald's All-American selection in 2025 and also won Kentucky's Mr. Basketball award after guiding Great Crossing High to its first state title in boys basketball. During that state championship run, Moreno posted 21.5 points, 14.9 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 3.4 assists per outing.
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: Malachi Moreno returns to Kentucky basketball, out of 2026 NBA Draft
Continue reading...
The Kentucky basketball big man announced on social media Sunday night he would withdraw his name from the NBA draft and return to UK for his sophomore season.
It was critical news for coach Mark Pope and the Wildcats, who anxiously awaited Moreno's decision.
At one point, it was viewed as a foregone conclusion Moreno would be back for another go-round with the Cats. But as rumblings started circulating he might be a first-round pick, the possibility he would be Kentucky's latest one-and-done draftee increased.
Now, the 6-foot-11, 243-pound center will try to build off his stellar freshman campaign.
He played in all 36 games, with 30 starts. Moreno paced the Wildcats in rebounds (6.3) and blocks (1.47) per game; his blocks average ranked eighth among SEC players. Additionally, his three double-doubles and field goal percentage (58.2%, 96 for 165) were two more team highs in 2025-26.
Moreno had a career-high 18 points in a win over Valparaiso in November, while his best rebounding effort was 11 on three occasions (Tennessee Tech on Nov. 26, at Florida on Feb. 14 and at South Carolina on Feb. 24). He logged a personal-best five blocks in a home victory over Texas in January. He also displayed his knack for distributing, recording four (or more) assists in five games.
Moreno earned the conference's Freshman of the Week award March 2 after averaging 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in wins over South Carolina and Vanderbilt the prior week.
By the end of the season, Moreno landed on the league's all-freshman team.
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Moreno was the first commitment of the Wildcats' 2025 recruiting class. He picked Kentucky over his other seven finalists — Arkansas, Indiana, Louisville, Iowa, Ohio State, North Carolina and Notre Dame — during a ceremony at Great Crossing High School's gym in August 2024.
Moreno was a unanimous four-star prospect, per the national recruiting datebases: Rivals, 247Sports, ESPN and On3. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Moreno was the No. 25 recruit nationally in the 2025 class. He was the country's No. 2 center and the top-ranked prospect in Kentucky.
Moreno was a McDonald's All-American selection in 2025 and also won Kentucky's Mr. Basketball award after guiding Great Crossing High to its first state title in boys basketball. During that state championship run, Moreno posted 21.5 points, 14.9 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 3.4 assists per outing.
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: Malachi Moreno returns to Kentucky basketball, out of 2026 NBA Draft
Continue reading...
