Malachi Moreno is a McDonald’s All-American. What’s the history of honorees from Kentucky?
The state of Kentucky now has another high school boys basketball star that it can celebrate as a McDonald’s All-American.
On Monday afternoon, the 2025 list of honorees was released. The 24-player group included Malachi Moreno, a star 6-foot-11 center from Great Crossing High School in Georgetown.
Moreno is one of three recruits who have signed to play at UK next season as part of the Wildcats’ 2025 recruiting class for head coach Mark Pope.
Beyond the deserved recognition that should go Moreno’s way for earning the honor, it’s particularly notable that Moreno is a McDonald’s All-American selection from Kentucky.
With his selection, Moreno is just the 16th player from the commonwealth to be named a McDonald’s All-American since the game began in 1977. The most recent player from Kentucky to earn the distinction was ex-Cat Reed Sheppard out of North Laurel High School in London in 2023.
Like Sheppard, Moreno is also a rare McDonald’s All-American from Kentucky who isn’t from a Lexington or Louisville high school, although Great Crossing’s Georgetown campus is less than 20 miles from Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington.
Only five Kentucky-based players from a non-Lexington or Louisville high school have received the honor of being named a McDonald’s All-American. The others were Chane Behanan (Bowling Green, 2011), Scotty Hopson (University Heights, 2008) and Rex Chapman (Apollo, 1986).
Moreno’s individual star power — he’s a five-star recruit who ranks as the No. 26 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class, per the 247Sports Composite — has helped elevate Great Crossing’s boys basketball program.
The Georgetown school opened in 2019, and the Warhawks made their first appearance in the Boys’ Sweet 16 state tournament last year. Powered by Moreno, along with Morehead State signee Vince Dawson III, Great Crossing reached the semifinals in 2024. Great Crossing’s season ended with a loss to eventual state champion Lyon County, a team led by current UK freshman guard Travis Perry, who is the all-time leading scorer in Kentucky high school boys basketball history.
This season, Great Crossing is among the favorites to win the Sweet 16 championship. The Warhawks are currently 17-4 and are 5-0 in 11th Region games. Moreno’s first game as a McDonald’s All-American selection will be Tuesday night when Great Crossing hosts Western Hills at 7:30 p.m.
Among the 24 players selected this year as McDonald’s boys’ All-Americans, Moreno is the third-lowest ranked player, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Moreno, 26th in the rankings, is only ahead of center Eric Reibe (No. 27) and power forward Niko Bundalo (No. 29). Reibe is going to UConn and Bundalo is going to Washington. Moreno is the lowest-ranked five-star prospect on the 247Sports Composite list.
Moreno is the Wildcats’ first representative in the McDonald’s boys’ All-American Game since Sheppard in 2023.
According to UK, Moreno is the 79th McDonald’s All-American to sign with the school. Moreno is also the sixth All-American from the commonwealth to sign with UK, along with Dirk Minniefield (1979), Winston Bennett (1983), Chapman (1986), Rajon Rondo (2004) and Sheppard (2023).
Rondo, who is from Louisville, began his high school career at Eastern High School before playing his senior season at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.
Here is a complete list of the McDonald’s boys’ All-American selections from a Kentucky high school since the game began in 1977:
▪ Malachi Moreno (2025-Great Crossing).
▪ Reed Sheppard (2023-North Laurel).
▪ Chane Behanan (2011-Bowling Green).
▪ Scotty Hopson (2008-University Heights Academy).
▪ Carlos Hurt (2001-Moore).
▪ Jason Osborne (1993-Male).
▪ Dwayne Morton (1990-Central).
▪ Allan Houston (1989-Ballard).
▪ Rex Chapman (1986-Apollo).
▪ Tony Kimbro (1985-Seneca).
▪ Winston Bennett (1983-Male).
▪ Manuel Forrest (1981-Moore).
▪ Dirk Minniefield (1979-Lafayette).
▪ Jerry Eaves (1978-Ballard).
▪ Vince Taylor (1978-Tates Creek).
▪ Jeff Lamp (1977-Ballard).
This story was originally published January 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM.
