Kentucky enters the 2026-27 season with plenty of buzz, and Malachi Moreno is a big reason why. With year three of the Mark Pope era getting closer, the sophomore center is drawing national attention after choosing to return to Kentucky instead of staying in the 2026 NBA Draft.
That decision kept Moreno in Lexington after an offseason in which his draft stock kept showing up in first-round mock projections. The return gives Kentucky a player many around the country expect to make a significant jump after flashing real upside as a freshman.
Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney sees that growth coming, too. In his ranking of the nation’s top centers, he placed Moreno ninth and pointed to two traits that stand out right away: “He has highly impressive mobility for a 7-footer and was very good on the boards as a freshman.”
Moreno averaged 6.3 rebounds per game last season, and that figure feels like an obvious area for expansion if he takes on a bigger role and turns more of those flashes into nightly production.
Sweeney also added, “If he takes the next step with his consistency, he could rapidly emerge as one of the best bigs in the country.
That’s the kind of leap Kentucky fans are waiting for. If Moreno reaches that level, he becomes a major piece of a team trying to hit its ceiling.
Still, the ranking does come with a little sting for Big Blue Nation. Louisville’s Flory Bidunga, Florida’s Rueben Chinyelu, and Duke’s Patrick Ngongba were all placed ahead of Moreno, giving him a little extra motivation heading into his sophomore season.
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Kentuckys Final Roster Decision Could Define Mark Popes Frontcourt
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The timing matters because the final call is tied to more than just fit on paper. Kohler is being weighed against Mark Mitchell for that last spot, and Mitchells situation remains unresolved while he waits on a court ruling on his eligibility. Until that picture clears up, Kentucky is left balancing immediate roster needs with the possibility that its finishing move in the frontcourt could hinge on whichever path opens first. [Read more 🡒]