Mark Pope had a real surprise on his 2025-26 roster as true freshman center Malachi Moreno exceeded expectations, stepping into a starting role. Big Blue Nation didn’t expect Moreno to see the floor much once Jayden Quaintance was back on the floor, but JQ never got healthy, and Moreno took over for Brandon Garrison immediately. The freshman seven-footer averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game.

This season, many expect a massive leap for Moreno as he could take over as one of the more dominant centers in the SEC. While his name was in the NBA Draft, the stock rose quickly for Moreno, and this gives fans and the staff a ton of confidence that he is going to break out this season.

Another person who believes Moreno is going to break out this season is Jon Rothstein. He made a list of his five top breakout candidates in SEC basketball this season, and Moreno was on this list, joined by Florida’s Isaiah Brown, Alabama’s London Jemison, Tennessee’s Dewayne Brown, and lastly Patton Pinkins from Ole Miss.

I believe Moreno is going to boost his stats from year one to year two in an absolutely massive way. I predict Moreno to score in the ballpark of 13 points per game this season. I expect him to pull down about 9 boards per game. His assists will take a big leap with him running the show, and I am predicting 3.5 dimes per game. Lastly, the shot blocking will be important for Moreno, and I believe he will average about 2.2 blocks per game.

If Moreno is able to put up numbers close to that this year as a sophomore, he is going to, without question, turn himself into a first-round draft pick, which Coach Pope predicted. The big thing for Moreno will be getting more physical down low. At times last season, teams would have a big who played a little bit more physical than Moreno, and he didn’t do well.

If Moreno can get mean down low, he is going to put up some eye-popping numbers this season in Lexington. I believe Moreno will finish this college basketball season as a top ten center in all of college basketball. It is going to be an absolute delight to watch Moreno run the show on offense this season for Pope and the Wildcats.

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The University of Kentucky has added three more international swimmers to its 2026 women’s recruiting class: Valeria Tarin of Mexico, Gabrielle Idle-Beavers of England and Yasmin Silva of Peru.

Tarin currently trains with Desert Dragons in Chihuahua, where she excels at the shorter distances of free, back and fly. She competed at the 2025 World Junior Championships (LCM), racing the 50 free (26.80), 50 back (31.12) and 100 back (1:07.62). A four-time junior national champion, Tarin has also qualified for the Pan Pacific Junior Championships and was a top three finisher in multiple events at the Mexican National Championships.

Tarin posted a series of strong performances at the 2026 Arena Elite Championships (LCM) in April, logging lifetime bests in three events. She won the 100 back (1:05.33 – PB) and 50 fly (28.77 – SB) and placed 3rd in the 50 free (26.37 – PB), 6th in the 100 free (57.85 – PB) and 10th in the 50 back (30.97 – SB).

Best Times LCM (SCY Conversion)

• 50 free – 26.37 (23.03)
• 100 free – 57.85 (50.67)
• 100 back – 1:05.33 (57.77)
• 50 fly – 28.30 (24.86)

Idle-Beavers will head to Kentucky from England, where she represents Mount Kelly Swimming and primarily specializes in breast and IM. She most recently competed at the AP Race International Meet (LCM) in April, which saw her contest the 50 breast (31.84) and 100 breast (1:08.69 – PB).

At the 2026 Sheffield Premier Open Meet (LCM) in March, Idle-Beavers clocked a handful of personal best performances. She raced the 50 free (26.49 – PB), 100 free (58.05), 50 back (30.89 – PB), 50 breast (31.60 – PB), 100 breast (1:09.67) and 200 IM (2:22.21). Earlier in the season, she set a personal best time of 2:20.72 in the 200 IM at the Arena Lisbon International Meeting.

Best Times LCM (SCY Conversion)

• 50 breast – 31.60 (27.56)
• 100 breast – 1:08.69 (1:00.08)
• 200 IM – 2:20.72 (2:03.89)

Another 2025 World Junior Championships qualifier, Silva represents the Peruvian Swimming Federation and swims for Streamline Club in Trujillo, primarily specializing in fly and IM. She recently competed in the 2026 Mare Nostrum Swim Tour (LCM), which was highlighted by a lifetime best performance in the 200 fly (2:11.86) at the stop in Canet-en-Roussillon.

At the 2025 National Senior Championship (LCM) in December, Silva posted a series of strong performances. She won the 100 fly (1:03.26), 200 fly (2:20.15) and 400 IM (5:09.51 – SB) and took 2nd in the 400 free (4:38.04 – PB) and 200 back (2:30.50), 3rd in the 50 fly (28.73) and 200 IM (2:30.79), 4th in the 800 free (9:35.58 – PB) and 1500 free (18:21.92 – PB) and 5th in the 100 back (1:10.92). She also set a best time of 1:02.79 in the 100 free as the leadoff on the 400 free relay.

Best Times LCM (SCY Conversion)

• 100 fly – 1:01.47 (54.11)
• 200 fly – 2:11.86 (1:56.27)
• 200 IM – 2:26.47 (2:09.07)
• 400 IM – 5:03.97 (4:28.08)

A Division I program, Kentucky competes in the Southeastern Conference, with the women’s team finishing 12th at the 2026 SEC Championships in February. Three athletes went on to compete at the NCAA Division I Women’s Championships, but they did not score any points in the team standings.

The three international recruits will bring added depth to the Wildcats across the board, and are currently poised to be some of the team’s top competitors in their top events based on their projected converted times.

Tarin, Idle-Beavers and Silva will join Allie Joyce, Quinn Schureck and Karrington Hansen in Kentucky’s class of 2030.

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