Kentucky basketball has had a wild spring. It all started in March with crashing out to 15-seed Oakland in the NCAA Tournament. This led to fan unrest with coach John Calipari and he ultimately decided to leave for Arkansas. His replacement was former BYU head coach Mark Pope. While many believed him to be a good hire, there were a few questions about his fit for the role, mainly regarding recruiting. These questions seem to be answered after Pope has landed the commitment of Malachi Moreno, the nation’s top center.
Kentucky Basketball Lands Elite 2025 Big Man
Moreno, a consensus top 50 recruit, is not only the best center in the country but more importantly the top player in Kentucky. Many fans were concerned about Pope’s recruiting abilities, especially in the Kentucky region. Even though he was a wildcat, Pope is from Seattle and mainly coached out west. He did not have many high school ties to the area. However, these fears seem to be alleviated with this commitment which is a good sign for the future.
The Recruitment
Moreno had major suitors after his services. Kentucky beat out the likes of North Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisville, and Ohio State. He was scheduled to go on visits throughout the fall, but he decided after an unofficial visit to Kentucky two weeks ago, that he would be a Wildcat. While he could still possibly go on future visits, the hometown school seems to be in a great position.
Moreno’s Game
Moreno is a self-declared “stretch five” meaning he is a big man that has a bit of an outside game. He said that he models his game after Kentucky legends Anthony Davis and Karl Anthony-Towns. In his most recent high school season, Moreno averaged 16 points per game and shot 30% from three. These are incredibly good numbers and show room for improvement as well.
In addition to his strong scoring ability, Moreno is great on the defensive side of the ball. He is a true 7-footer, which makes him a nuisance in the paint. Last season he averaged nearly four blocks per game and nearly five the season before. If he can even bring a fraction of this to college, he will be winning numerous defensive awards.
What’s Next For Kentucky Basketball?
While this is obviously a great recruiting win, the Wildcats need to be focusing on what is next on the trail. With the additions of Texas and Oklahoma, the SEC will become even more competitive. There are a few recruits that are currently high on Kentucky that Pope should be able to land if everything goes well. In the coming weeks, two top ten recruits are scheduled to visit Kentucky. First is Nate Ament and forward from Virginia and second is Caleb Wilson a forward from Atlanta. Pope clearly cares about building from the inside out with his recruiting as he is bringing in a ton of big men recruits. If he can land a few of these guys, Kentucky will be back at the top of the recruiting rankings in no time.
