Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball center Malachi Moreno continues to evaluate whether he will return to Lexington for his sophomore season or keep his name in the 2026 NBA Draft.
When Malachi Moreno first entered the NBA Draft evaluation process, many around Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball believed the Georgetown, Kentucky native was strongly leaning toward a return to Lexington rather than a full departure from college basketball.
Reports also suggested Moreno made a notable financial sacrifice to stay with Kentucky instead of entering the transfer portal, reinforcing the idea that his decision was more about development and fit than maximizing short-term NIL or transfer opportunities.
That’s why his current draft decision window is being closely watched—because while early expectations pointed toward a straightforward return, his continued testing of the NBA Draft waters has made the outcome less certain than initially expected.
That shift in expectations is what has made Malachi Moreno one of the more interesting storylines for Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball heading into the offseason.
Coming into the year, Moreno was projected to play a depth role behind Jayden Quaintance and Brandon Garrison, with limited immediate responsibility as a third-string center. But Quaintance’s season was cut drastically short after appearing in just four games, which unexpectedly elevated Moreno into a far more significant role in the frontcourt rotation.
Instead of easing into college basketball development minutes, Moreno was thrust into meaningful playing time and quickly became one of Kentucky’s most surprising contributors. That rapid rise is a key reason NBA scouts have begun paying closer attention—and why his draft decision is now far more uncertain than it looked before the season.
Sign in
NBA image
NBA
Scores
Schedule
Playoff Bracket
Playoffs
Mock Draft 5.0
Draft Guide
Draft Lottery
Finals
News
Standings
Stats
Teams
Players
Injuries
Odds
Fantasy Basketball
Wemby Watch
NBA Cup
All-Star Game
Summer League
The Kevin O’Connor Show
The Big Number
The Dunker Spot
Fantasy Basketball
TRENDING
PGA Championship live updates
Cavaliers take Game 5
Ohtani snaps Dodgers’ skid
NFL schedule release
Soccer Pick ‘Em with FOX One
Story by
SB Nation
Kentucky Wildcats News: Malachi Moreno opens up about his NBA Draft decision
Feb 28, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Malachi Moreno (24) celebrates from the bench during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Feb 28, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Malachi Moreno (24) celebrates from the bench during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
chrisbeasmore
Thu, May 14, 2026, 11:45 AM GMT+1
Good morning, BBN!
Kentucky Basketball center Malachi Moreno continues to weigh whether he will return to Kentucky for his sophomore season or remain in the 2026 NBA Draft.
When Moreno first announced he would test the NBA Draft waters, many believed the Georgetown, Kentucky native was almost certainly going to return to Lexington. Moreno reportedly even took a pay cut to return to Kentucky instead of entering the transfer portal.
Advertisement
Advertisement
However, after a breakout freshman season and increasing NBA interest, that decision is no longer viewed as a guarantee.
Coming into last season, Moreno was expected to be Kentucky’s third center behind Jayden Quaintance and Brandon Garrison. Instead, Quaintance played only four games all season, while Moreno stepped into a major role and became one of Kentucky’s biggest surprises.
Moreno averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 58.2% from the field. He played in all 36 games and started 30 while averaging 22.6 minutes per contest.
“This is my dream, to be in the NBA, so I am looking at it with my best foot forward,” Moreno tells Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports. “Obviously, I left the option on the table to go back to college if I could. Right now, all this leading into the decision is just how these next couple of weeks go. I know I have until the 27th to make that decision, and I will just have a lot of talks with my brother because he is probably going to be the most important factor in this decision, talks with my family, talks with my inner circle, and seeing what is the best decision for me at the time.”
“After talks with my brother, like I said, my agent, they kind of just said that they thought that I was in a pretty good spot,” Moreno said. “I’ve got Pro Day coming up after this, after the week is over in L.A., and they want me to be full strength for that. Then I’ve got a couple more workouts after that that are getting set up.”
When discussing whether he would need first-round draft status to remain in the draft, Moreno said he is still evaluating everything.
“Obviously, I would love to be a first-round pick. That would be great,” Moreno said. “I’ve got two weeks before I’ve got to make any kind of decision, so I am kind of talking with my inner circle and seeing what the best decision is.”
Kentucky fans will be anxiously awaiting to hear if he’ll spend one more year in Lexington.
