Every summer, someone unexpected rises.
For Kentucky, that someone is Malachi Moreno — the 6-foot-11 in-state freshman from Georgetown, Kentucky — and right now, he’s flipping the script.
He came in quietly. No hype machine. No flashy mixtapes.
But now? He’s outplaying veterans. Earning coaches’ respect. And turning heads across the gym.
Quiet Killer in the Paint
Malachi Moreno isn’t loud — his game does the talking.
He’s controlling the paint like he owns it:
Timing blocks with surgical precision
Securing every rebound in his area (and then some)
Finishing with authority around the rim
He’s not just showing up — he’s standing out.
> “Every drill, every scrimmage, he’s right there making plays,” one team insider said. “He looks like he’s been here for two years.”
Advanced Beyond His Years
What’s surprising everyone isn’t just the size — it’s the feel.
Malachi rotates on defense like a veteran.
He communicates. He’s always in the right spot.
And offensively, he’s starting to stretch the floor and hit short jumpers — showing flashes of a modern big.
He’s not just a shot blocker.
He’s becoming a complete big man.
Rising Fast in a Crowded Frontcourt
Nobody expected Moreno to be this good, this fast.
With players like Brandon Garrison and Mo Dioubate ahead of him on paper, minutes were supposed to be hard to find.
But Malachi’s not waiting his turn. He’s taking it.
And now?
The coaches are rethinking their rotation — and Big Blue Nation is asking the question:
“How did this guy not have a fifth star next to his name?”
