Legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale greets the rest of the broadcasting table during the first half of an NCAA Mens basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, February 1, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Mark Pope had a lot of big wins this offseason, and one of these wins was getting Malachi Moreno back out of the NBA Draft. When the seven-footer Moreno declared for the NBA Draft, no Kentucky fan expected him to keep his name in the NBA Draft, but things heated up for the Kentucky native.

Moreno jumped into the first round of a few mock drafts, and this had some fans worried that he might keep his name in the draft, but he pulled his name out of the draft and returned for another season in Lexington. Not many expected Moreno to play much last season for the Wildcats, but early-season struggles for Brandon Garrison and the injury situation with Jayden Quaintance led to Moreno being the guy at the five.

As a true freshman, Moreno put up some very impressive numbers, averaging 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. There is plenty for Moreno to work on this offseason, but fans are very excited to see what he is going to do with another year in the Pope system. If the physicality is better for Moreno this season, down low, he is going to be a monster for the Wildcats.

Dick Vitale had an ESPN article where he predicted some of the top breakout candidates in college basketball, and Moreno was one of the names he listed. Moreno is a player that the college basketball legend Vitale is very high on, and there are many more who agree, especially in Lexington.

One reason that many are high on Moreno is his ability to pass the basketball. You don't often see players of Moreno's size with the ability to run the show on offense and pass the ball at an elite level. Moreno is going to have an excellent season this year for Kentucky, where I predict him to average 12 points, nine rebounds, 3.5 assists, and two blocks per game for Pope's team. If Moreno puts up these kinds of numbers next season, he is going to be a first-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.

A big key to Kentucky having a really good season will be Moreno taking that next step, and fans feel very good about him getting it done. Moreno knows what has to be done this season for him to be one of the top bigs in the SEC, and he will get it done.