Moreno to the Draft
Malachi Moreno is the first Kentucky player to declare for the NBA Draft this season.
In a social media post on Monday, Moreno announced his plans to test the waters and enter the NBA Draft.
“After a lot of prayer and after sitting down with my family and the people I trust the most, I’ve decided to take the next step in chasing my dream,” he said. “I will be entering the NBA Draft, while maintaining my eligibility. I’m looking forward to learning through this process, competing and continuing to develop my game as I evaluate what’s best for my future.”
If he opts to return to college, Moreno will remain with the Wildcats.
“Representing this state and wearing Kentucky across my chest is something I’ve never taken for granted,” he said. “If I’m back in college next season, it’ll be right here with Big Blue Nation.”
As a freshman, the 2025 Kentucky Mr. Basketball from Great Crossing in Scott County averaged 7.8 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per outing. Moreno played in 36 games and started in 30. He added a team-high 53 blocks and recorded 19 steals. He made the game-winning shot at the buzzer in a 75-74 win at LSU on Jan. 14.
Moreno was named to the All-Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team.
“I think one of the best freshman in the country certainly has a big role on Kentucky's team,” Texas coach Sean Miller said after his team’s 85-80 loss to the Wildcats this season.
Following Kentucky’s 82-63 loss to Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Kentucky coach Mark Pope said next year’s roster rebuild would be centered around Moreno and others on last year’s squad.
“You're starting a first-year center and a first-year power forward and a sophomore No. 2 guard,” he said. “It wasn't the plan coming into the season, but it's what we ended up with, and those guys have gained some great experience, and they're going to get better and better and better. We'll start there and kind of build out from there. We've done this for two years, and we'll continue to do a good job at it.”
No Mo
Mo Dioubate has opted to leave Kentucky after one season.
Dioabate will enter the transfer portal and is the fourth player in a week to leave the program. Dioubate joins Jaland Lowe, Jasper Johnson and Brandon Garrison on a list of Kentucky players who have decided to attend another school next season.
An Alabama transfer, Dioubate averaged 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and recorded double figures 11 times. He scored 20 or more points twice and had two double-double performances for the Wildcats.
“Mo is such a great teammate,” Kentucky coach Mark Pope said during the season. “He leads in ways off the court also. He cares about his teammates deeply. He thinks about his guys. He's growing as a leader. Clearly, his impact on the court is great. It's been great for us this entire season. He just brings us a physicality. ... he's a gift to us, for sure.”
In his lone season with the Wildcats, Dioubate impressed his teammates, including guard Otega Oweh.
“Every time Mo is out there, I feel like he really sets the tone for us,” Oweh said during the Southeastern Conference Tournament. “Every team needs a bruiser, somebody who's going to give it to them all. Mo has done that all year. He doesn't care about stats or how the game is going. He's going to go out there and make his impact on the game. I think that's every team's dream player. Mo helps us out in a bunch of ways.”
Dioubate developed a knack for producing for the Wildcats at crunch time and had a clutch performance in several games down the stretch. Dioubate scored 17 points, had eight rebounds and three blocks in a 89-84 win over Santa Clara in the NCAA Tournament.
“Those are the moments I look forward to — late-game situations,” he said. “I understand that my team needs me in those moments. Those are, like, the moments where I shine. I've always been good at closing games. I know what I bring to the team. When it's crunch time, I try to step up every time I can.”
The transfer portal officially opens Tuesday.
Mo Dioubate (23) has decided to enter the transfer portal after only one season at Kentucky. (Photo by Les Nicholson)
Malachi Moreno answers a question at the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis earlier this month. He declared for the NBA Draft on Monday with the option of returning to Kentucky. (Kentucky Today/Keith Taylor)
