LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Malachi Moreno is coming back to Kentucky.
The Wildcats’ sophomore center has withdrawn from the 2026 NBA Draft and will return to Lexington for another season, according to a report from Kentucky Sports Radio and On3 Sports.
Moreno, a former McDonald’s All-American from Georgetown, Kentucky, had entered the draft process while maintaining his college eligibility. According to On3, he canceled his remaining NBA workouts before Wednesday’s withdrawal deadline.
He had skipped scrimmages at the NBA Draft combine, fueling speculation that he would remain in the draft.
His return is a significant piece of offseason news for Kentucky coach Mark Pope. Moreno played in all 36 games as a freshman, starting 30, and averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He led the Wildcats in rebounding and blocked shots, while earning SEC All-Freshman honors.
Moreno also produced one of Kentucky’s biggest moments of the season, hitting a game-winning buzzer-beater at LSU to finish an 18-point second-half comeback.
The 7-footer arrived at Kentucky as one of the nation’s top high school prospects and the No. 1 center in the 2025 recruiting class. His decision to return gives Pope one of the SEC’s top returning big men and strengthens a frontcourt expected to be central to Kentucky’s 2026-27 plans.
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