Malachi Moreno dominated 'at the highest level of kids his age' this summer

It was a storybook finish for Malachi Moreno at Great Crossing, averaging 21.5 points, 14.9 rebounds, 3.6 blocks and 3.5 assists per game as a senior while leading the Warhawks to their first-ever state championship. That overlapped with being named a 2025 McDonald’s All-American and Kentucky Boys All-Star with Nike Hoop Summit and Team USA U19 Training Camp invites, as well.

Oh, then he got to live out his dream wearing Kentucky across his chest for the first time a few short months later, beginning his freshman season in Lexington with eight weeks of summer workouts from June to early August. Not a bad year for the 7-1 center — with plenty more good stuff to come.

What were Pope’s first impressions upon finally getting his hands on him? He dominated.

Moreno’s case is unique, too, because Pope actually got to coach him at USA U19 Training Camp in Colorado Springs just a few short days after move-in — he was “head-spinning good” there, as his head coach puts it. Then they returned to Lexington together and picked up right where they left off the rest of the way.

“Malachi Moreno, I’ve seen him dominate eight feet and in — offensively and defensively — at the highest level of kids his age, in such an incredible way,” Pope told Matt Norlander of CBS Sports last week. “Coaching him at USA Basketball, it was unbelievable to watch his domination in that space. And he’s incredibly mobile.”

The top-30 recruit out of Georgetown has already talked about the adjustment process he’s dealt with since arriving on campus, matching the physicality of Kentucky’s seasoned veterans with experience and knowledge from being there and doing that. Personally, he’s had “some ups and downs, but my confidence level is higher than ever.”

None of his individual accolades matter, though, when the focus is on the assignment.

“I’ve got one goal and one goal only, and that’s to win number nine,” Moreno said. “Whether I play five minutes or 25 minutes, as long as we’re winning, I couldn’t care less.”

Those two things can go hand in hand, though, Kentucky going to another level with the Burger Boy living up to his five-star potential sooner rather than later.

Pope believes the flashes are already there. Now it’s about putting it all together consistently.

“This Malachi Moreno is gonna be fun,” he said. “We’re gonna have a lot of fun with him. He’s so young and he’s so capable. From him, we’re gonna see moments where it’s like he should be in the NBA right now, and we’re gonna see moments where we feel like, I’m not sure Malachi knows exactly what he’s doing. And we’re going to see both of those, and that’s what growth is.”

Moreno signed with Kentucky as the No. 28 overall prospect and No. 1 center in the class of 2025. He’s got all of the tools to be the next great in-state star to represent his hometown Wildcats well on the national stage, potentially on the way to banner No. 9.

Dominating this early is a nice start.