NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 3 early contenders for 4-star Malachi Moreno

Malachi Moreno is a rising prospect in the 2025 NCAA Basketball recruiting class. Which programs are early after the big man’s services?

It’s not just the 2024 NCAA Basketball prospects that coaches were looking at this past week at various AAU circuits. The 2025 class also has their attention, including players such as Malachi Moreno. He’s a 6’11 center from Georgetown, Kentucky, and has risen into being a consensus four-star recruit and in the top-75 overall.

Recently, Moreno talked with Dushawn London of 247sports about his recruitment, including which teams are reportedly in the mix for potential visits. Here’s a look at how he’d potentially fit with each of them.

Michigan Wolverines

There are three players that can play the center position at Michigan right now. Two of them are grad transfers in Tray Jackson and Olivier Nkamhoua, both of whom will be gone a year from now. The other is Tarris Reed, who is entering his sophomore season and will be the projected starter. If he’s a 4-year player, Moreno would have to be willing to wait a bit behind Reed before eventually taking over the position.

Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State already has a pair of class of 2024 commitments in guard Kur Teng and forward Jesse McCulloch, who are each four-stars. Moreno would be their first center, potentially replacing both Mady Sissoko and five-star incoming freshman, Xavier Booker. But there’s also a chance both could return for another year and with Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper also on the roster, there’d be a big logjam at the five-spot.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

It’s a complete rebuilding job for new head coach Micah Shrewsberry, especially in the frontcourt. The team landed Penn State forward transfer Kebba Njie, along with four-star big man, Carey Booth. He can play both positions inside but is viewed as a raw and long-term prospect.

This is an option where Moreno could get early minutes and develop along with a new core that could eventually compete in the ACC. They might not win as much compared to the other two options but playing time also wouldn’t be a question.