Mark Pope has had a dismal high school recruitment cycle for Kentucky, just landing one four-star point guard for this year, losing out on No. 1 prospect Tyran Stokes to Kansas. He did make up for it with the transfer portal, but now, he may be losing his best center as well, as Malachi Moreno is already testing out the waters at whether or not he could enter the NBA draft.
With Stokes not going to Kentucky, Moreno is seen as Kentucky’s biggest star for next season, and Mark Pope stated that he believes his big man could be the best center in college basketball next season.
“Malachi Moreno was our number 1 priority for us, going into this portal season. We think that he is going to be the best center in all of college basketball next year here at Kentucky. He is also going through the (NBA) Draft process. He had a great workout just last night for an NBA team,” he said.
Pope also admitted that Moreno will be joining the NBA Comb]ine next week and that he has their “full support.” Should Moreno decide to with draw from the draft, he would be returning to Lexington to play for at least another year with the Wildcats. However, should he push through, Mark Pope could lose his best player right now.
He also noted that he is also still active with the players still available in the transfer portal and expressed his confidence in the team he is assembling, despite it now being without Tyran Stokes and possibly without Malachi Moreno.
Mark Pope Promises To Fill Up Center Position Should Malachi Moreno Leave for the NBA
Should Malachi Moreno leave, the five spot, or the center position, will be relatively empty. However, during his Q&A session on X, Mark Pope assured fans that he is still trying to get another center via the transfer portal.
“We’re working hard in the portal right now to shore up this five-spot. We’re going to have an unbelievable crew at the center position,” he said.
Pope had some big wins in the transfer portal, securing guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins to shore up his backcourt. This just leaves the frontcourt, which should be anchored by Moreno.
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