Kentucky Basketball: Malachi Moreno the first of a potential mega class for Mark Pope

When head coach John Calipari left the Kentucky Basketball job for Arkansas, the big question for the successor (Mark Pope), was whether the top-tier recruiting ability would remain with the program. The team did land some good transfers this offseason to be competitive for the 2024-25 season, but what about the future recruiting classes?

The Wildcats have a couple of local in-state targets to watch, with Malachi Moreno being the first big test. He's a consensus top-30 overall prospect in the 2025 class, coming from Georgetown, Kentucky. Moreno is a 7'0 center with plenty of potential and all-around ability.

The Wildcats were in play for Moreno for months, along with teams such as Indiana, Ohio State, Louisville, and North Carolina. In the end, Coach Pope was able to get his first big commitment in the 2025 class. With OK State transfer Brandon Garrison being the lone non-senior big man on the roster, Moreno has a great chance at getting immediate minutes as a freshman a year from now.

This now asks the question of who is next for Kentucky Basketball? The big name to watch is Jasper Johnson, a consensus 5-star guard prospect who is also a local target. He has a top-5 that includes big threats, UNC and Alabama. He reportedly has a decision coming soon, and this should be viewed as a "must-win" for the Wildcats, especially since he's from the area.

Other targets to watch going forward includes guards Acaden Lewis and Brayon Mullins, as well as forwards Caleb Wilson, Koa Peat, and 5-star wing prospect, Nate Ament. Regardless of who the HC is, Kentucky is going to get its fair share of talent out of high school, even if it isn't on the same level as what Calipari was able to accomplish. But as the Moreno commitment showed, Coach Pope is capable of keeping at least the top guys close to home.