Malachi Moreno -- Kentucky's 'best rebounder' -- posted a double-double in his 2nd college game

It hasn’t taken Malachi Moreno long to find his footing as a true freshman at Kentucky. The Georgetown native is already competing for major minutes at the center position for his Wildcats. His play in game two of the season against Valparaiso was another sign that he might be further along with his game than most realized.

In Kentucky’s 107-59 win over Valpo on Friday, Moreno posted his first career college double-double, going for 18 points and 10 rebounds on 8-14 shooting in 21 minutes. The seven-footer was finishing lobs out of the pick-and-roll, cleaning up shots around the rim, running the floor, and inhaling any rebound in his vicinity. He also grabbed nine rebounds to go along with five points in the season-opener earlier this week.

At least through two games, Moreno, who has yet to commit a foul, has looked like someone who will bring plenty of value to this season’s Kentucky team, especially on the glass.

“He’s been our best rebounder on both sides of the ball pretty consistently from the get-go,” Head coach Mark Pope said of Moreno after Friday’s victory. “He’s taking that challenge really seriously and it’s fun to watch him grow. He’s young, he’s going to have ups and downs. His ceiling is really, really high and he had a huge impact.”

Kentucky C Malachi Moreno vs. Valparaiso:

– 21 MIN
– 18 PTS
– 8/14 FG
– 10 REB
– 3 ASThttps://t.co/Q0sPYimoMD pic.twitter.com/2ZlZgG49dT

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerOn3) November 8, 2025

It’s not just Moreno’s efforts on the boards that have Pope singing his praises, though. The big man has always been a talented passer for someone his size, going back to his days at Great Crossing High School, something that fits perfectly with the offense Pope wants to run. That was on full display against Valparaiso when he chipped three assists with zero turnovers, using his frame to look over and around defenders to find the open man.

“I thought the way he calculated the game was really good,” Pope continued. “I’m proud of him. Probably the most important thing, he’s a three-assist, zero-turnover guy for a freshman big and had a ton of usage tonight, and I don’t think you see that very often.”

Moreno has been splitting time with junior center Brandon Garrison through the first two regular-season games. Garrison was impressive in his own right against Valpo, going for 12 points (4-4 FG), four rebounds, and four assists in 18 minutes. He and Moreno bring different skillsets to the table when they’re on the floor. Both players will be key to making this a long season for Kentucky. Despite his rookie status, Moreno is already coming along quickly.

“Mali is a great learner, he learns fast,” Kentucky point guard Jaland Lowe said. “From a standpoint of off the court, he’s gotten so much stronger and he’s really paid attention to the details that help him get better. I’m super proud of him. He’s come a long way. He’s gonna be so important for us.”

A lifelong Kentucky fan, Moreno is just happy to be helping contribute to winning at his favorite school. But if he keeps this up, big things are going to be in store for the future of his career — both in college and beyond. There is plenty of time left this season to keep improving.

“It feels great,” Moreno said of his double-double performance. “Just another stepping stone for what I hope is gonna be a good career for me. I just hope I can do more and be able to make an impact.”

That impact has been easy to see early into the 2025-26 season.

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