Malachi Moreno Returns to Kentucky for 2025-26 Season
One of the standout players on the Kentucky Wildcats’ 2025-26 roster is making a triumphant return. On Monday, it was revealed that Malachi Moreno, a key big man for the team, has committed to returning to Lexington. Moreno has signed a deal to rejoin the Wildcats while also entering his name into the NBA Draft process to gain valuable feedback from the experience. This means that if he decides to withdraw from the draft, he will remain a Wildcat.
Moreno’s performance during his freshman season exceeded many expectations. After Jayden Quaintance was sidelined for most of the year, Moreno stepped up and delivered impressive results. Fans were surprised by how well the Kentucky native from Great Crossing High School performed, but his freshman season showed great promise for what he can achieve in the future. Navigating the physical challenges of the SEC was no easy task, but Moreno handled it effectively in a role that wasn’t initially expected of him.
A Freshman Season Full of Highlights
Moreno earned recognition for his outstanding play, being named to the All-SEC Freshman Team. In his first year, the 7-foot center averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. His contributions were crucial to Kentucky’s rebounding success and will serve as a strong foundation for his sophomore season. While his most memorable moment came with an epic buzzer-beater against LSU, it was his ability to secure offensive rebounds that made him an invaluable asset to the team.
Moreno proved to be a reliable contributor for the Wildcats, especially considering the low expectations placed on him at the start of the season. He was expected to provide a spark as a backup big man, but he stepped up when needed and played as a starter. His performance ranked him among the top 15 in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage in the SEC, along with the top three in blocks. His consistency throughout the season set the stage for a potentially significant second year.
Mark Pope’s Expectations for Moreno
What does head coach Mark Pope see as the area where Moreno needs to grow heading into next season? Improving his basketball IQ through the experiences gained as a freshman. “Malachi is going to continue to grow in terms of his IQ with the game,” Pope said late in the season. “I think inherently, he’s a really, really smart player. As he learns more, he’s going to be really focused on where he’s going to bring that to his team and be able to communicate guys in the right spots, right places, right reads. I think that’ll be a part of his growth as a leader.”
Kentucky has regained one of its most consistent contributors for another season, and this time, it’s one of their own. The insights gained from the NBA Draft process will help Moreno identify areas for improvement. Welcome back, Malachi!
