MalachiMoreno

2025-26: An All-SEC Freshman Team selection … SEC Community Service Team member … Appeared in all 36 games and made 30 starts … Averaged 7.8 points and team highs in rebounds per game (6.3) and blocks per game (1.47) … Also shot a team-high 58.2% from the field … Registered a team-best three double-doubles … Had 11 double-figure scoring efforts and four games with double-figure rebounding … Paced the team in rebounding in 18 games and in blocks 17 times … Had eight games with three or more rejections … Drained a game-winning buzzer-beater at LSU to lift Kentucky to a come-from-behind win … He had 10 points, a team-high eight rebounds and added two steals and a blocked shot in the victory … Had three points and six rebounds in his NCAA Tournament debut vs. Santa Clara … Tallied seven points, four rebounds and three blocked shots in a season-high 32 minutes vs. Missouri in the SEC Tournament … Led the team in rebounds (6), assists (4), blocks (2) and steals (1) vs. Florida in the regular-season finale … Earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors on March 2 after averaging 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in wins over South Carolina and Vanderbilt … Had 11 points and team highs in rebounds (6) and assists (5) vs. Vanderbilt … Charted eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while also chipping in with two blocks and a steal at South Carolina … Notched his first double-double in league play with 11 points and 11 rebounds at Florida … Posted 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocks in the upset win over No. 25 Tennessee at home … Scored all 11 of his points in the second half to help knock off Arkansas, also finishing with seven rebounds … Had eight points, four rebounds and career highs in assists (6) and blocks (5) in the win over Texas … He became the first Wildcat with that stat line since Nerlens Noel vs. Texas A&M on Jan. 12, 2013 … Posted six boards and four blocks, including the game-saving rejection, in a road win at Tennessee … Became the first 7-footer in Division I since at least 1996-97 to notch 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals with his performance against Mississippi State … He also became just the third UK player since 1996-97 to reach those numbers, joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Rajon Rondo as the others to achieve the line … Had a game-high three blocks to go with nine points and four boards vs. Missouri … Led the team with nine rebounds to go along with eight points and a pair of blocks in the win over St. John’s … Contributed three points, two rebounds, a career-high four steals and a team-best two blocks in the home win over Indiana … Scored 14 points and had seven rebounds against NC Central … Had eight points and nine rebounds to go along with three blocks and two steals vs. North Carolina … Recorded his second double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds vs. Tennessee Tech … He also chipped in three assists, two blocks and a steal … Scored 10 points and secured eight rebounds, while blocking four shots vs. Loyola (MD) … Was perfect from the field (3-3) and the line (2-2) to finish with eight points and five rebounds at Louisville … Had a season-high 18 points to couple with 10 boards on his way to his first career double-double vs. Valpo … Logged five points and nine rebounds in his collegiate debut vs. Nicholls.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Great Crossing High School … Consensus top-25 prospect … McDonald’s All-American … Earned Mr. Kentucky Basketball honors after leading school to state title as a senior … Averaged 21.5 points, 14.9 rebounds, 3.6 blocks and 3.5 assists during senior season … Selected for 2025 USA Basketball U19 National Team training camp in June of 2025 … Part of USA Men’s Nike Hoop Summit team … Played for Indiana Elite on the AAU circuit … Participated in Adidas Eurocamp, the NBPA Top 100 Camp and the Under Armour Next Elite 24 Showcase.

PERSONAL: Son of Sarah and Luis … Born Oct. 24 … Brother, Michael, was a standout player at Eastern Kentucky, where he became the first player in program history to score at least 1,500 points and grab 900 rebounds … Favorite basketball memories are winning Mr. Kentucky Basketball and committing to UK … Most prized possession is his Bible … Chose jersey number for both Kobe Bryant and his birthdate … Favorite food is pasta … Favorite movie is Step Brothers … Favorite TV Show is Family Guy … Dunked for the first time when he was 14-years-old … Favorite former Kentucky players are Justin Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns … Lists cooking as an off-the-court talent.