In Malachi Moreno, Kentucky has something special developing
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Malachi Moreno’s multifaceted production keyed Kentucky’s four-game SEC streak.
- Moreno produced rare multi-category stat lines matched by Rondo, Gilgeous-Alexander, Noel.
- His perimeter vision and coaching instincts expanded Kentucky’s offense amid injuries.
If you want to know why a Kentucky basketball season that began as a slog has now yielded a four-game SEC winning streak, a big reason can be found playing center for UK.
Malachi Moreno just keeps putting up crazy stat lines.
In a 92-68 win over Mississippi State on Jan. 10, Kentucky’s 7-foot, 250-pound freshman center had 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals.
Since 1996-97, the only other players to at least match those numbers in a UK game were Rajon Rondo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — a former NBA star and a current NBA superstar.
During UK’s 76-75 win at LSU last week, Moreno went for 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists — and the game-winning jumper as Kentucky turned the play with which Christian Laettner once broke Wildcat hearts in its own favor.
Then came Wednesday night at Rupp Arena. In an intensely contested SEC battle with Texas, Moreno had eight points, four boards, six assists and five blocks to help the Cats stave off the Longhorns, 85-80, before a Rupp Arena crowd of 19,298.
Once again, statisticians had to dig deep into UK basketball history to find the last time a Wildcats’ player had at least matched the diverse stat line Moreno produced Wednesday night.
This time, it went back to Nerlens Noel, who had 15 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven blocks — plus four steals thrown in for good measure — in an 83-71 loss to Texas A&M at Rupp on Jan. 12, 2013.
In Moreno, the 2025 Kentucky Mr. Basketball and State Tournament MVP, UK basketball fans are watching a young player developing into something special.
“I’m proud of him,” UK head man Mark Pope said of Moreno. “And he continues to get better and better and better.”
Added Texas coach Sean Miller: “Malachi is a terrific young player. I think one of the best freshmen in the country, certainly has a big role in Kentucky’s team. And I think he’s improving. ... I think he’ll only continue to get better.”
Against Texas center Matas Vokietaitis, Moreno faced one of the more difficult big man assignments in men’s college hoops.
A 7-foot, 255-pound Lithuanian, Vokietaitis entered the game as the player who had drawn the most fouls in Division I basketball this season.
Primarily facing off with Moreno, Vokietaitis got to the foul line only six times, making five. From the field, he made only 5 of 14 shots.
“I think Malachi influenced some of those misses,” Miller said. “And although (Vokietaitis) shot six free throws, he usually shoots more. And I credit Kentucky’s defense.”
Offensively, the biggest sign of Moreno’s development has come in the apparent eagerness with which he now seeks out the basketball on the perimeter of Pope’s five-out attack.
Over Kentucky’s past four games, Moreno is averaging four assists.
To illustrate how much Moreno’s confidence in handling the ball on the perimeter has grown, Pope said that when he tried to call plays vs. Texas, there were times when UK’s freshman center had already made a call.
Said Pope: “Half the time, I’m putting a play call on him, Malachi is like ‘I know Coach. We already got it. We already talked about and figured out what we want to do.’ He is a coach on the floor as a freshman — a 7-foot freshman.”
Though Moreno was not one of the players Kentucky made available to speak with reporters after the Texas game, his veteran teammates were happy to talk about his ongoing development.
“What Malachi is being able to do right now, he’s showing all his abilities,” said UK sophomore guard Collin Chandler. “He’s being able to show all his abilities to play in this offense and directing the offense.”
Chandler paid the current Kentucky freshman center the compliment of comparing him to last season’s UK center, Amari Williams. You will recall, Williams had such a skilled all-around game that he had a points, rebounds, assists triple-double (11, 11 and 10 respectively) last season in a loss at Mississippi.
“He’s a really smart kid,” Chandler said of Moreno. “He’s growing into his role. I think (he’s doing) things we saw Amari do.”
The downer of what was otherwise an uplifting victory for Kentucky Wednesday night is that UK lost yet another key player to injury. Sophomore wing Kam Williams left the game early in the second half with what Pope subsequently said was a broken foot.
With point guard Jaland Lowe already out for the year due to a shoulder injury and big man Jayden Quaintance currently sidelined by knee swelling, the loss of Williams is yet another frustrating blow for UK.
The continuing development of Moreno suggests the Wildcats may nevertheless salvage something valuable from what has been a 2025-26 season filled with adversity.
Moreno is “really filling up the stat sheet — blocks, assists, rebounds. He’s doing really good,” said Kentucky senior star Otega Oweh. “When he’s being that efficient, that aggressive, we’re a really good team.”
