Kentucky lands homegrown 4-star center Moreno

• Paul Biancardi Close Paul Biancardi Basketball Recruiting National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com 18 years of coaching experience at Division I level Previous Horizon League coach

• of the year at Wright State Myron
• Medcalf Close Myron Medcalf ESPN Personnel Author Covers college basketball Joined ESPN.com in 2011 Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato Aug
• 16, 2024, 12:11 PM ET Kentucky
• coach Mark Pope secured a top
• skill– and in-state standout– on Friday when Malachi Moreno, a

four-star center in the 2025 class, announced his dedication to the Wildcats.Moreno, a Georgetown, Kentucky, native and the No. 36 hire in his class per ESPN, is the first dedication in the 2025 class for the brand-new Kentucky head coach, who left BYU to change John Calipari in April.An experienced 7-footer, Moreno is one of the couple of true centers in the class, as more big men yearn for the” positionless”label. But he is not the only target for Pope.Five-star prospect Jasper Johnson, a 6-4 guard from Lexington, is atop that list, which also consists of Tounde Yessoufou, Chris Cenac Jr. and Braylon Mullins, who has fun with Moreno on Indiana

Elite.Editor’s Picks 1 Associated Moreno is best known for his scoring on both blocks with his back

to the basket, and for blocking shots. The timing on his blocks is outstanding; he intuitively waits till the offensive player releases the ball. He is devoted to rebounding, and he does an excellent task of rebounding the ball high and keeping it high for putbacks. He likewise has passing vision facing the basket, so he can operate on the perimeter as a high-low passer, as a screener and in dribble-handoffs. He likewise reveals lots of basketball IQ to perform in the half court as he is skilled in slipping screens. As he develops a strong structure of functional strength, he will have fun with a lower base and not get walked around so quickly. There is still space from improvement with his shooting, but he has touch.Moreno made the announcement at Great Crossing High School in Georgetown in front of a jam-packed crowd.”There will be 1,800 students in our gym for this statement,”Moreno told ESPN.”It’s amazing. “Pope, a previous center who helped Kentucky win the 1996 national title before

he invested a decade in the NBA, is known for a style that still includes huge guys as crucial players on offense. That reality impacted Moreno’s choice.”I chose Kentucky due to the fact that of Coach Pope’s playing style, “Moreno stated. “He likes to play through their big guys and enables them to pass. That’s a big part of my game. Given that the day the new staff got the job, they have actually been really consistent in recruiting me. Coach Pope won a national title here as player, so he understands what it requires excellent at Kentucky. I received a deal from [Calipari] and had to start over with Coach Pope. I needed to earn my scholarship two times.”Moreno likewise said Kentucky’s legacy of developing big males, consisting of numerous NBA stars, likewise influenced his final decision. “Kentucky’s campus is stunning,”he stated. “There are no much better fans. Growing up I imagined playing there. I enjoyed their huge guys. Nerlens Noel, Willie Cauley-Stein, Anthony Davis and Nick Richards.

I plan on studying education and being a teacher one day. My teachers have actually helped me so much for many years. I want to do that for the next generation.”Jeff Borzello contributed to this report.