The lights were bright, the gym was packed, and every NBA scout in attendance had their eyes locked on one player who’s heard more questions than compliments this offseason. By the time Kentucky’s annual Pro Day wrapped up, those questions had vanished — because this Wildcat just made a statement that echoed throughout the building.
That player was Malachi Moreno — the 7-footer who’s quickly becoming the name everyone’s whispering about in NBA circles.
For weeks, scouts had wondered if Moreno could hold his own against older, more polished big men. But when the drills started, the Kentucky sophomore put every doubt to rest. His footwork looked sharp, his timing on blocks was elite, and his passing out of double teams showed an offensive maturity that caught everyone off guard.
> “He’s made a huge leap,” one scout said after the session. “The tools were always there — but now the confidence matches the talent. You can tell he’s put in serious work this offseason.”
During live scrimmages, Moreno didn’t just anchor the paint — he owned it. He crashed the glass, sprinted in transition, and showcased a soft touch that had multiple scouts taking notes. What impressed them most wasn’t just his athleticism, but how composed he looked while leading younger teammates.
Mark Pope’s staff has been vocal about Moreno’s growth behind the scenes, but this was the first time the outside world got to see it up close. For a player who’s battled questions about consistency, this was the night he flipped the narrative completely.
> “He’s not just a rim protector anymore,” another scout added. “He’s becoming a two-way big with real pro potential.”
While others — like Otega Oweh and Brandon Garrison — drew plenty of buzz too, it was Moreno’s rise that defined the day. Kentucky fans have seen flashes of this version before, but at Pro Day, he looked like the centerpiece of a frontcourt built to dominate.
And the best part? He’s just getting started.
So, for everyone who doubted whether Malachi Moreno could be that guy — he answered in the loudest way possible. Not with words, but with a performance that has NBA scouts rewriting their scouting reports.
