Jasper Johnson building closer relationship with Malachi Moreno: 'Our dream is coming true.'

Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno were about as close to the action as they could have been. Standing baseline on the front row, with talented 2026 guard Tay Kinney in between them, the two Bluegrass natives have known each other for a long, long time, but now they’re building a different kind of relationship.

The one that future teammates build.

“We talk often since the commitment. I’ve known Malachi since we were little kids,” Johnson said on Sunday night at the new Woodford County High School gym in Versailles, KY. “Talking here and there, playing against him, stuff like that. Our relationship is really close. Talking to him and Acaden (Lewis), building our relationship for next season.”

Johnson, Moreno, and Lewis are all committed and signed to Mark Pope‘s debut recruiting class as Kentucky’s head coach. Johnson and Moreno were courtside on Saturday to watch John Calipari‘s return to Rupp Arena in person. The end result wasn’t what they wanted, but the atmosphere was a sign of things to come when they head to campus ahead of the 2025-26 season.

“It was great. Everything you want to imagine,” Johnson said of the Rupp Arena atmosphere. “Growing up in Lexington and going to games, I just can’t wait until I’m out there and get to play next year. Just looking forward to it.”

The day after Kentucky came up short against Arkansas, Johnson was on the hardwood again, this time with the ball in his hands. Playing next to Kinney in the backcourt, Johnson and Overtime Elite’s RWE hosted Huntington Prep (WV) at Woodford County High School. RWE snuck out a 71-70 win as Johnson led the way with 31 points.

Watching closely just a few feet behind one of the baskets? Pope and Moreno, who were seated side-by-side and stayed to see Johnson (and Kinney) play from start to finish.

It’s understandable (and almost expected) a coach would want to watch one of his incoming players, but it’s not often a future teammate does the same. Moreno living in nearby Georgetown certainly helps, but whenever he has an opportunity to show guys some love, he makes an effort to do so.

“It means a lot,” Johnson said of Moreno making the trip to Versailles. “Malachi is my future teammate next year. Coming out and supporting me. I was sitting by him at the game the other night talking about it. How are our dream is coming true slowly. It was great to see them on the baseline cheering me on.”

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