Breaking: Mark Pope directly contacts in-state 6-foot-11 star to join Kentucky

Could more in-state talent come to Kentucky under Mark Pope?

Malachi Moreno is another rising star in the state that the Kentucky Wildcats are considering.

Zack Geoghegan of Kentucky Sports Radio reports that Moreno received a direct message from head coach Mark Pope. Moreno performs at Great Crossing in Georgetown, Kentucky. In the class of 2025, the 6-foot-11, 210-pound center is rated as a 4-star recruit.

According to 247 Sports, Moreno is the top player from Kentucky, the third-best center in the class, and the 27th-best player in the country. He has already accepted a number of significant offers. Baylor, Arkansas, Iowa, Alabama, Louisville, and a few more are among them.

That one visit to Iowa on October 7 is all that he has scheduled. For the previous season, Moreno averaged 16 points and 13.3 rebounds per game while playing in 37 games, according to MaxPreps.

With four-star Reed Sheppard, who is anticipated to go as a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after only one season in Lexington, the Cats have been extremely fortunate in recent years to have access to top in-state talent.

The best player in the state and someone who will bring skill to Kentucky is 6-foot-2, 4-star commit Travis Perry from Lyon County High School.

Moreno will have offers from all around, but the hope is that Pope and company will be able to promise him minutes, and with a lineup that should have far fewer five-star commits, there’s no reason to think Moreno won’t heavily consider Kentucky.

Expect the Cats to continue pursuing the star big man.