All summer long, questions circled around Kentucky basketball: sure, the Wildcats have the talent at the top, but what about the depth? Could Mark Pope’s roster withstand the grind of the SEC and still have enough in the tank for a deep March run?
After the latest round of practice footage, one name may have just shifted that conversation — Malachi Moreno.
The freshman big man came into Kentucky as a player with upside, but not necessarily as someone expected to make an immediate splash. That changed in practice. Moreno showed off soft hands around the rim, the ability to alter shots defensively, and a surprising level of confidence for a newcomer. His presence not only gave Kentucky a lift in the paint but also highlighted just how many reliable options Pope has developing on this roster.
And it wasn’t just Moreno. Footage and reports out of practice also showed Jayden Quaintance holding his own against veterans, Mo Dioubate continuing to bring relentless energy on both ends, and Denzel Aberdeen flashing the kind of backcourt stability Kentucky will desperately need when games tighten up. Even Braydon Hawthorne and Reece Potter drew attention for their hustle and steady improvements.
Instead of worrying about depth, Kentucky fans may now find themselves asking a very different question: how will Pope manage all of these pieces? The competition in practice is heating up, and it’s making the Wildcats look deeper than anyone expected.
If Moreno and the other emerging players can carry this momentum into the season, Kentucky won’t just have a strong starting five. They’ll have a second wave ready to step in and keep the pressure on opponents — the kind of advantage that wins championships.
