Kentucky basketball has had a season that didn’t quite match the high expectations set by their top-10 preseason ranking, currently sitting at 18-10 overall and 9-6 in the SEC. Yet, amidst the ups and downs, one bright spot has emerged: 7-foot freshman Malachi Moreno.
Moreno, last year’s Kentucky Mr. Basketball, was expected to play a supporting role behind junior Brandon Garrison and Arizona State transfer Jayden Quaintance, a projected 2026 NBA Draft lottery pick. However, with Quaintance limited to just four games due to a knee injury and Garrison not quite meeting expectations, Moreno has stepped up in a big way.
Averaging 8.4 points and leading the team with 6.6 rebounds per game over an average of 22.6 minutes, Moreno is shooting a team-high 58.2% from the field and 70% from the foul line. His defensive stats are impressive, too, with 47 blocked shots, 47 assists, and 17 steals, and he’s yet to foul out of a game.
In Kentucky’s recent win at South Carolina, Moreno was pivotal. According to UK stats guru Corey Price, he became the first Kentucky player since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2015 to notch at least eight points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, and one steal in an SEC road game. This marked his third game this season with 11 rebounds.
Remarkably, Moreno accomplished this after injuring his left ankle in a loss at Auburn, where he still managed to contribute seven points, seven rebounds, and four assists in 24 minutes.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope praised Moreno’s performance against South Carolina, highlighting his resilience and impact. “He’s working his body back into some health.
He’s dealing with some situations. So, I thought he gave us a great effort,” Pope said.
“He had some big rim protection plays.”
Pope continued to emphasize Moreno’s defensive prowess on the UK Radio Network postgame show, describing his rim protection as “unbelievable” and noting his critical work on the defensive glass.
Moreno’s emergence has been a key storyline in Kentucky’s season, providing a glimpse of his potential and offering hope for brighter days ahead.