Kentucky big man Malachi Moreno will be back with the Wildcats in 2026-27.
Moreno initially entered the NBA Draft, but now plans to withdraw before the May 27 deadline and return to Lexington for his sophomore season.
Moreno announced his decision on social media on Sunday evening:
That’s massive news for a Kentucky team that’s hoping to take a step forward next season in Year 3 under head coach Mark Pope. Moreno received positive feedback from NBA evaluators, but will have a chance to further improve his draft stock next season in Lexington.
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Moreno will be penciled in as UK’s starting center next season after he averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game as a freshman this past campaign.
Expectations will be high for the Wildcats next season. Kentucky was just 20-16 in SEC play over Pope’s first 2 seasons in charge and has gone just 3-2 during the NCAA Tournament over the past couple of years.
Having Moreno back to anchor Kentucky’s defense will give it a chance to compete at the top of the SEC next season.
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Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
