Mark Pope’s Kentucky offense was already shaping up to be a nightmare for opponents. Now Malachi Moreno is giving it another layer.
The Wildcats’ starting big has started showing real comfort pulling out to the three-point line in live action, and that kind of growth only makes a Pope offense look more dangerous. Kentucky was built to spread the floor, but if Moreno becomes a legitimate threat from deep, the ceiling gets a whole lot higher.
That’s a notable turn for a player who took only three three-pointers all of last season and missed all three. Still, that number doesn’t tell the whole story. Moreno was splitting time with Brandon Garrison and waiting in the shadow of Jayden Quaintance, with Kentucky fans anticipating Quaintance’s return at center.
This offseason, though, Moreno has had the full run of the starting job, and the early signs have been encouraging. In practice, he’s been stepping out and looking more comfortable from range, a development that has shown up in behind-the-scenes looks throughout the summer.
This was my favorite clip from practice, for multiple reasons. @JackPilgrimKSR. pic.twitter.com/peNVv39Gb4
- Rare Rookies (@rarerookies) August 6, 2026
Malachi Moreno is Expanding His Game to the Perimeter
It’s not hard to see why Kentucky would welcome this kind of evolution. The modern game rewards bigs who can stretch the floor, and Moreno adding that to his toolbox does two things at once: it helps his own long-term value and gives the Wildcats another wrinkle when defenses pack the paint.
Kentucky does not need Moreno to become a volume shooter. The offense already has plenty of perimeter firepower with Milan Momcilovic, Alex Wilkins, and Kam Williams leading the way from distance. But if Moreno can occasionally step out and knock one down, that’s the kind of bonus that makes an already dangerous group even tougher to handle.
That’s especially true with Justin McBride and Ousmane N’Diaye still settling in at the four spot. Moreno’s ability to hit from outside could end up being a useful extra piece rather than just a novelty.
Kentucky's Ceiling Raises With Moreno Scoring From Three-Point Range
The contrast with Brandon Garrison last season is hard to ignore. Garrison made more threes than Moreno did, but his attempts from range often came at the expense of what Kentucky needed most from him inside. The result was a stretch game that didn’t always give the Wildcats much back.
Moreno has a different kind of upside. If he makes the second-year jump Mark Pope is expecting, most of his value will still come from what he does around the rim. Anything he adds from three becomes a bonus on top of that.
That’s the best version of this development for Kentucky: Moreno stays a low-post presence first, while the occasional jumper from deep forces defenses to think twice. Based on what’s showing up in practice, that possibility is starting to look very real.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Final Roster Push Just Got Tense For Mark Pope
Kentuckys late roster chase picked up another layer of intrigue as Keyshawn Hall, a transfer with SEC experience, moved onto the radar in a serious way. Hall has already taken part in a Zoom call with the Wildcats, and his social media activity has only added to the sense that this is becoming a two-horse recruitment, with Kentucky and St. Johns both pushing hard while Mark Pope works through the final stages of roster building.
For Kentucky, the timing matters because Hall is one of several names still in play as the Wildcats try to lock down their last spot. Jaxon Kohler and Mark Mitchell remain among the other transfer targets on the board, but Halls presence in the mix gives the process a different feel now that Rick Pitino and St. Johns are also fully engaged. Pope still has options, but the closing stretch of this recruitment suddenly looks a lot less straightforward. [Read more 🡒]
Ty Bryant Gives Kentucky's New Defense Its Best Early Hope
Kentuckys fall camp opened with the defense getting most of the early attention, and for good reason. New coordinator Jay Bateman is settling into a unit that has to replace both ideas and habits, and the most reassuring piece on hand is safety Ty Bryant, a fourth-year player whose experience already makes him stand out in a room trying to learn a new system.
Bryant showed last season why he matters so much to what comes next, finishing with a career-high four interceptions and 76 tackles while giving the secondary a steadying presence. In a transition year, that kind of production is only part of the story, because Kentucky also needs Bryant to be the kind of dependable voice who helps the defense absorb Batemans message quickly and hold the group together. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Pope Suddenly Has A New Chance To Finish Kentuckys Roster
Kentuckys summer roster picture got a little more interesting after a judge ordered the NCAA to open the door for previous seniors to receive a fifth year of eligibility without going through the usual waiver process. For Mark Pope, that kind of change can matter in a hurry when a team is still weighing how to use its final scholarship, and it gives the Wildcats another layer to consider as they sort through the last details of the roster before the season gets closer.
Pope has already talked about the progress Kentucky is making in summer practices, but the roster is not necessarily finished just because the bulk of the work is done. The Wildcats have shown interest in several transfer options as they look at that 15th spot, and this new eligibility wrinkle could widen the pool of possibilities in a way that keeps the back end of the roster fluid for a little while longer. [Read more 🡒]