Malachi Moreno working at a UK basketball camp earlier this summer. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Malachi Moreno was a Kentucky basketball fan who grew up in Georgetown watching the Cats all he could.
He was 6 years old in 2012 when Kentucky won the national title and he loved comparing himself to UK star Anthony Davis. A few years later Willie Cauley-Stein became a player he patterned his game after. But he also loved John Walls, the Harrison twins, Brandon Knight and other former UK greats.
Most of his current Kentucky teammates are from out of state and he has emphasized to them what a high standard for basketball there is in Kentucky.
“It’s the premier program in college basketball. It’s the best of college basketball and there is someone who always wants to come and beat us,” said the 7-foot freshman. “There’s always going to be a target on our backs. That’s just the standard we have here and we have to always be ready to compete.”
Moreno won a high school state championship in Rupp Arena with Great Crossing last season. Now his goal is to help Kentucky win a ninth national championship this year.
“The high school title is good to have, but I mean that’s also in the past and right now I’m really just focused on winning banner number nine,” Moreno said. “It’s hanging on our wall right now because we understand what the assignment is here at Kentucky, and that’s to hang banners.”
He got a head start on his UK career when he tried out for the USA Basketball U19 team along with UK teammate Jasper Johnson. One of the floor coaches for the tryout process was Kentucky’s Mark Pope. Even though Moreno didn’t make the final roster due to an injury, he was thrilled to work with Pope.
“It was a great experience overall. It was kind of almost like a cheat code with Coach being there, being able to get a real look at how he coaches and being able to see what it would be like when we come back,” Moreno said. “Also being able to play against other top guys in the country kind of made all of us a lot better, and kind of just got us a little more prepared for what’s to come.
“He’s a big teacher and I’m her to be a sponge and just listen and kind of take what he says and hopefully apply it to my game.”
4 Responses
Moreno will need to beef up considerably for the 2026/27 season as Quaintance, Garrison, and possibly Jelavic will be gone. Potter needs to do the same.
Potter, Moreno and Hawthorne all need to gain 15-20 pounds of muscle. At least 10 pounds by the time the season gets here. If they could gain 5-10 pounds this year and 5-10 more at the end of the season they will be much bigger in 26/27. Pitino was the king of body transformations. I remember everyone would flex at midnight madness and show how muscle they gained in the off-season. It really helped McCarty, Dent, and he Antoine Walker in the best playing shape of his career. In the NBA he blew up like a balloon.
What about Kam Williams?
6"8 190 pounds. I can't see him doing much in SEC play other than jacking up 3 pointers. He'll probably get pushed out so far on the floor that he won't be able to even do that.
He won't be able to rebound or guard anyone IMO.
Kam is going to surprise a lot of people. If Jelavic is available to play the 4 spot, I look for Dioubate to start at the 3. Williams and Noah will get most of the reserve minutes at the 3 while Noah should be the first man up as a reserve at the 2 spot as well…much to Jasper Johnson's dismay.