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What is Kentucky basketball getting in the #1 center in the 2025 class Malachi Moreno?

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What is Kentucky basketball getting in the #1 center in the 2025 class Malachi Moreno?


Four-star center Malachi Moreno just committed to the Kentucky Wildcats. Moreno is ranked as the 25th-best player in the 2025 class according to On3’s composite rankings, but he is the number one center in the class.

This was a big time get for Coach Mark Pope and the rest of the Kentucky coaching staff as Moreno is an in-state player and it is always important to keep those players at home. Moreno picked the Wildcats over schools like Indiana, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Notre Dame.

The question is, what are Coach Pope and the Kentucky coaching staff getting in a player like Moreno? The short answer is they are getting exactly what the staff wants in a big man. When watching film on Moreno, at first glance, he looks like a center who would primarily be a defense and dunk type of player, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Moreno is extremely fluid with basketball for someone his size. He can dribble and pass, which is exactly what centers have to do in Kentucky’s new offensive system. He has a jump shot that he will pull out occasionally, but it’s not his calling card.

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Moreno is a solid shot blocker and rebounder, so he will be able to help on the defensive side of the floor. The best part of Moreno’s game is his skillset around the rim. He is extremely shifty around the rim making it hard for opposing bigs to guard him.

Moreno is an excellent player, and he is a great start to the 2025 class for the Kentucky Wildcats. He is going to be a hometown hero, and Moreno has NBA lottery pick upside.





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Kentucky Basketball Roster Tracker: Jasper Johnson are Brandon Garrison going portaling

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Kentucky Basketball Roster Tracker: Jasper Johnson are Brandon Garrison going portaling


The transfer portal doesn’t officially open until Tuesday, April 7, but players are already announcing their plans — over 500 so far, in fact. On Kentucky’s end, Jaland Lowe was the first, announcing on March 28 that he would head elsewhere. Since then, it’s been crickets, but Jasper Johnson and Brandon Garrison quickly changed that, with news breaking of their plans to transfer happening within an hour of each other on Friday.

More announcements could be on the way before Tuesday. We’re still waiting on decisions from seven Wildcats, eight if you include Jayden Quaintance, who is expected to enter the NBA Draft, but has yet to officially declare. Redshirt big man Reece Potter has publicly stated that he will run it back in Lexington. Mark Pope got his first 2026 commit this week in four-star point guard Mason Williams, the son of former NBA All-Star Mo Williams, who will also come to Kentucky as an assistant coach.

It could be a newsy weekend. KSR will be tracking all of Kentucky’s offseason roster movements. Consider this your one-stop shop for all roster additions and departures.


GRADUATED (2)

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PORTAL DEPARTURES (3)

REMAINING ELIGIBILITY – STATUS UNKNOWN (8)

EXPECTED RETURNERS (1)

HS SIGNEES (1)

PORTAL ADDITIONS: N/A

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IMPORTANT DATES

  • April 7: Transfer Portal Opens
  • April 21: Transfer Portal Closes
  • 60 days before NBA Draft: NBA Early Entry Deadline
  • May 8-10: NBA G League Combine (Chicago)
  • May 10: NBA Draft Lottery
  • May 10-17: NBA Draft Combine (Chicago)
  • May 27: NCAA Division I Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline
  • 10 days before NBA Draft: NBA Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline
  • Late June: 2026 NBA Draft (Date not announced)

Take advantage of our KSR+ SPRING SALE to get bonus coverage of the Cats, including the latest intel on Kentucky’s efforts in the Transfer Portal, Spring Football, and the search for a new Athletic Director — plus a year of access to The Athletic. Annual subscriptions are 50% off for a limited time.


UPDATES

April 3: Brandon Garrison joins Johnson in the portal

  • After two seasons with the Wildcats as the team’s backup center, Garrison will look for a starting job going into his final college season.

April 3: Jasper Johnson will enter the Transfer Portal

  • Mark Pope‘s highest-ranked recruit of all time will look for a fresh start elsewhere after an up-and-down freshman season.
  • The other finalists in his high school recruitment were Alabama and North Carolina.

March 30: Mo Williams to join staff as assistant

  • Expected to join his son, Mason, in Lexington, filling one of the vacant assistant coaching positions
  • Head coach at Jackson State (2022-26) and Alabama State (2020-22), Assistant coach at Cal State Northridge (2018-20)
  • Played 13 seasons in the NBA for 7 different franchises; NBA All-Star (2009), NBA Champion (Cleveland Cavaliers, 2016)

March 28: Jaland Lowe will enter the Transfer Portal

  • Leaving UK after one season, which was cut short by a shoulder injury.

March 27: Associate head coach Alvin Brooks will not return next season

March 27: 4-star Mason Williams commits to Kentucky

  • Son of former NBA All-Star/current Jackson State head coach Mo Williams
  • 6-foot-2 point guard ranked No. 124 overall in the 2026 recruiting class by Rivals
  • Held offers from Ole Miss, Jackson State, Memphis, Louisiana, New Mexico State, Stephen F. Austin, Washington, and Texas Tech
  • Averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per outing in 2025-26 while shooting 41.2 percent from deep (8-game sample size)

March 26: Keegan Brown announced as Director of Roster Management

  • Worked with Mark Pope for five seasons at BYU
  • Most recently worked as head video coordinator of the Wisconsin Herd, the Milwaukee Bucks’ G League affiliate.

March 24: Jason Hart leaves for SMU

  • Left Kentucky after two seasons to become the associate head coach under Andy Enfield
  • Lead recruiter for Dink Pate and Tyran Stokes



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Roadway in Northern Kentucky could be designated ‘Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway’

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Roadway in Northern Kentucky could be designated ‘Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway’


FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKRC) – A measure that includes naming a highway in Northern Kentucky after conservative activist Charlie Kirk is awaiting action from the governor.

Senate Joint Resolution 139, an omnibus bill designating honorary names for roads and bridges across the state, was delivered to the governor Thursday after clearing both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly.

Among its provisions is the designation of a portion of Kentucky Route 18 in Boone County as the “Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway.”

The resolution passed the Senate 36-0 in March and later cleared the House 86-4 on April 1 before final concurrence in the Senate.

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Lawmakers considered removing the Kirk designation during debate. A House floor amendment that would have deleted the “Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway” provision was defeated.

The measure includes several other highway and bridge designations statewide, including memorials for fallen service members and local leaders.

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If signed, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet would be directed to install signage marking the honorary highway names.

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Lexington veteran’s remains found in Indiana park

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Lexington veteran’s remains found in Indiana park


CLARKSVILLE, In. (WKYT) — The remains of a Kentucky veteran who was the subject of a Green Alert were found in a park.

The remains of Jyronna Dione Parker, 54, were found March 22 by officers from the Clarksville Police Department. His body was found in Ashland Park on the river’s shoreline.

Jyronna Dione Parker, 54.(Lexington Police Dept.)

In late 2025, a Green Alert was issued for Parker. This alert was cancelled by the Lexington Police department after they determined he was not at risk.

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Despite the cancellation of the alert, Parker had been reported missing from Lexington since Oct 17.

What is a Green Alert?

Under Kentucky law, a Green Alert is issued when a veteran at risk goes missing. It’s designed to help first responders and the public locate missing veterans who may be in danger by quickly notifying emergency management agencies, search and rescue teams, and local media outlets.

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