Malachi Moreno cuts list to eight, includes Kentucky

Kentucky is a finalist for the No. 1 center in the class of 2025 — someone who happens to be in the Wildcats’ backyard.

Malachi Moreno, the No. 16 overall player in the rising senior class out of Georgetown, KY, has cut his list down to eight schools. Those remaining in contention? Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Ohio State, he tells KSR.

He cut programs such as Cincinnati, Xavier, Tennessee, Purdue, Missouri, LSU, Providence, USC, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Baylor, Clemson, Creighton, NC State and Virginia Tech from consideration, among other offers.

“They’ve kept the most contact and they’ve all shown my family unconditional love,” the top-ranked center told KSR. “When you show my family that kind of love, it’s kind of hard to pass up on those opportunities. My family is most important to me.”

The 7-foot-1 prospect and Great Crossing (KY) star has taken an official visit to Iowa, along with unofficials to Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Arkansas. He was in Lexington this past week to watch practice with fellow in-state standout Jasper Johnson — another top priority for Mark Pope and the Wildcats.

It’s been a dominant spring and summer for the top-20 prospect, a standout at USA Basketball Junior National Team U18 Training Camp and NBPA Top 100 Camp while earning an invite to the Adidas EuroCamp. What has he been looking to prove at the national and international levels?

“I’m one of if not the No. 1 big man in the country and when I’m playing my hardest, playing at my best, there aren’t very many players who can stay in front of me,” he told KSR. “I just want to make sure people know I’m not here to play around, I always want to take care of business. I’m making sure everyone sees that.”

How has he been able to put it all together? What’s been working for him?

“Keeping my motor at an all-time high and making sure my teammates stay involved, making winning plays for my team,” he added. “I’m not so much worried about scoring the most points or looking flashy, I just want to play the right way and help my team win.”

Can Mark Pope keep the nation’s top-ranked big man home? He’s making a push with Kentucky now officially a finalist.