Kentucky signee Malachi Moreno, second from right, recently watched UK signee Jasper Johnson play along with UK coach Mark Pope and his wife. (Elaine Bailey Photo)
Obviously Kentucky signee Malachi Moreno was excited when he was named a McDonald’s All-American, the first time Great Crossing High School had anyone receive that honor since the school opened six years ago.
“I was on pins and needles most of the day waiting for the announcement but he handled it great,” said Great Crossing coach Steve Page. “He heard the news. Our principal came in to congratulate him because this is a really a big deal for us and our community. However, it didn’t take long for him to start looking at the practice schedule and be ready to get to work.
“He is just an incredible young man and so deserving of this honor. It’s good to see kids that work hard and do what he has done get rewarded. For a Kentucky kid, this does not happen very often.”
Moreno is one of the top three centers in his recruiting class. The 6-11 Moreno is averaging 22.1 points and 14.6 rebounds per game and shooting 71 percent from the field and 62 percent at the foul line. He’s helped Great Crossing, the preseason favorite to win the state title, to a 22-4 record that includes only one in-state loss (St. Xavier).
He had a school-record 40 points, including a school record 17 field goals, and 12 rebounds in a 117-73 win over rival Scott County on Senior Night last week.
Great Crossing has played a national schedule for the second straight year and has played eight games against out of state teams. In the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Florida he had 39 points (15-for-15 from the field), 11 rebounds and three blocks in a win over Bishop McNamara. Great Crossing also played in the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach for the second straight year.
“Obviously making McDonald’s All-American was a goal of his as he proceeded up the national rankings,” Page said. “Last year he had 24 points and 25 rebounds in a game at the Beach Ball Classic to get on the national radar even more. He has played in front of a lot of people who vote on this. One reason we played St. X when we did was because one of the McDonald’s voters was going to be there. Us having a national schedule did not hurt with voters and the big-time camps he attended helped too.”
ESPN recently ranked Moreno No. 23 overall in his recruiting class that could not have hurt his McDonald’s status.
“We were pretty confident this would happen for him but you never know for sure. It’s not something we really spent a lot of time talking about. We knew it was out but the focus for him is always on our team,” Page said.
Moreno had numerous offers from prep schools across the country. Instead, he chose to stay at Great Crossing for his senior season much like Reed Sheppard did at North Laurel for his final season.
“He probably left money on the table by staying with us,” Page said. “But it has worked out well. His scoring is up, rebounds are about the same and blocks are a tad more this season. He is definitely a pass-first kid. He gets a lot of attention from defenses and likes getting the ball out to open teammates.”
Nominations have been made for Mr. Basketball and Moreno certainly seems to be the favorite.
“He wants to win Mr. Basketball but he would gladly trade that for a state title,” the Great Crossing coach said. “He is hyper focused on our team and knows individual stuff comes after that.
“If he won Mr. Basketball it would be great and show you did not have to go to a prep school to get recognition. He stayed with his buddies and still got to do great things.”
2 Responses
I’m looking forward to watching him play at Kentucky next year!
There’s no way they win the state championship I was at the game they played at Butler County. They lost their big kid Rice that suffered a preseason knee injury and only had a kid about 6’4” playing against Moreno. The Bears almost beat them because Moreno can’t hit free throws! He’s 7 ft tall and only can dunk! The little guard that’s family comes from Logan County hit every free throw at the end of the game to win it for them! They doubled up on the Price kid to shut him down. No way Moreno should be a McDonald’s! That list is a Fraud! The Johnson kid is so much better than most of those kids that made it! Moreno has No Muscle on his body and He will be a 4 year project. WKU signed the better player in the Rice Boy even though he will be rehabbing the knee.