Kentucky lands homegrown 4-star center Malachi Moreno

Kentucky coach Mark Pope secured a top talent — and in-state standout — Friday when Class of 2025 four-star center Malachi Moreno announced his commitment to the Wildcats.

Moreno, a Georgetown, Kentucky, native and the No. 36 recruit in his class per ESPN, is the first commitment in the Class of 2025 for Kentucky’s new head coach, who left BYU in April to replace John Calipari.

A skilled 7-footer, Moreno is one of the few true centers in the class, as bigger guys covet the “positionless” label. But he is not the Pope’s only target.

Five-star prospect Jasper Johnson, a 6-4 guard from Lexington, tops that list, which includes Tunde Yesufo, Chris Senac Jr. and Braylon Mullins, who plays with Moreno at Indiana Elite.

Moreno is best known for both blocking goals and blocking shots with his back to the kite. His block timing is impressive; He instinctively waits until the offensive player releases the ball. He’s dedicated to rebounding, and he does a good job of rebounding the ball high and keeping it high for putbacks. He also has a fleeting eye toward the basket, so he can work on the perimeter as a high-low passer, screener and dribble-handoff. He shows a lot of basketball IQ to run the half court as he excels at slipping screens. Because he builds a strong base of functional strength, he plays with a lower base and doesn’t move around as easily. There is still room for improvement in his shooting, but he has the touch.

Moreno made the announcement before a packed crowd at Georgetown’s Great Crossing High School.

“We will have 1,800 students in the gym for this announcement,” Moreno told ESPN. “It’s exciting.”

Pope, a former center who helped Kentucky win the 1996 national title before spending a decade in the NBA, is known for a style that still incorporates big men as critical players on offense. That reality influenced Moreno’s decision.

“I chose Kentucky because of the way Coach Pope plays,” Moreno said. “He likes to play through their big guys and let them pass. That’s a big part of my game. From the day the new staff got the job, they’ve been very consistent in recruiting me. Coach Pope won a national title here. The players, So he knows I got an offer from (Calipari) at Kentucky and I had to earn a scholarship twice.”

Moreno also said Kentucky’s legacy of developing big men, including multiple NBA stars, also influenced his final decision.

“Kentucky’s campus is beautiful,” he said. “There are no better fans. Growing up I dreamed of playing there. I watched their big guys. Nerlens Noel, Willie Cauley-Stein, Anthony Davis and Nick Richards. I plan to study education and become a teacher one day. My teachers Helped. I want to do this for generations to come.”

Jeff Borzello contributed to this report.