Coming into the season, the script was supposed to be simple. Kentucky Basketball knew Jayden Quaintance was likely a one-and-done talent. Even with his injury struggles, the NBA scouts have been tracking him for years.
But while everyone was watching Quaintance, another Wildcat has quietly, or maybe not so quietly anymore, snuck his way up the draft boards.
Malachi Moreno is playing his way into the first round, and Kentucky fans might need to start preparing for the reality that they could lose two 7-footers to the league this summer.
The scouts are taking notice of Malachi Moreno
Moreno wasn’t necessarily projected as a “one-and-done” lottery pick when he arrived on campus, but his efficiency has forced the issue. Major outlets are now consistently ranking him as a top-30 prospect.
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FanSided ranks him at No. 20, noting: “Despite a fluctuating role, Malachi Moreno looks the part of an NBA contributor… He has ready-made size and strength for the next level, on top of impressive agility in space, which allows Moreno to fully weaponize his reported 7-foot-2 wingspan.”
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SB Nation lists him as the 23rd-best prospect in the entire class.
Why Moreno is rising
It is easy to see why the league is intrigued. In just 22 minutes per game, Moreno is putting up extremely productive numbers: 8.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. He is shooting 58.6% from the field, proving he knows his role and doesn’t force bad shots.
“We recruited (Moreno) because we thought he could be a terrific passing big,” Pope said.
But what separates him from a standard “rim runner” is his feel for the game. Moreno is averaging 1.7 assists per game, showing a passing ability that NBA teams crave in modern bigs. He can anchor a defense with his shot-blocking, but he is agile enough to hedge on screens and recover, a prerequisite for surviving on an NBA court.
The one weakness
The only thing holding him back from being a lottery lock is the modern NBA’s obsession with spacing. Moreno has not made a 3 in college, shooting just 2 so far.
In a league where “stretch fives” are king, he is a throwback. Could his versatility outweigh his shooting? Yeah, probably. You can’t find a lot of very mobile 7-footers.
Kentucky fans were bracing to lose Quaintance. They probably weren’t bracing to lose Moreno this fast. But when you are 7-feet tall, can protect the rim, and pass, the NBA comes calling quickly. It is beginning to look like Mark Pope might have to replace more than just 1 center.
Drew Holbrook has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion
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