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Kentucky Star Malachi Moreno Withdraws from 2026 Draft

5/25/2026

Summary

Moreno Withdraws

Malachi Moreno withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft and will return for 2026-27 season.
Coach Mark Pope said Moreno was the program’s No. 1 priority entering the portal.
Yahoo Sports ranked him No. 23 overall and CBS No. 30 before his withdrawal.
He is the only starter returning after Kentucky’s 22-14 season, having started 30 of 36 games and averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, leading team in rebounds and blocks.

Summary

Moreno Works Out

He worked out for all 30 NBA franchises at the GSL Sports Group Pro Day in Los Angeles before the May 27 withdrawal deadline.
Teams showing interest included the Knicks, Lakers, Celtics, Heat, Grizzlies, Hawks and Trail Blazers.
Moreno entered the draft as a former McDonald’s All-American and the No. 1 center in the 2025 recruiting class.
ESPN’s mock draft placed him at No. 36, noting his preseason workouts and scouting reports earned positive feedback.

History

Historical Context

After the NBA’s 2005 collective-bargaining agreement imposed a 19-year-old, one-year-out-of-high-school rule for the 2006 draft, high-school stars have been funneled through college. Andrew Bogut became the first one-and-done pick in 2005, and Kentucky’s 2025-26 freshman Malachi Moreno withdrew from the 2026 portal before the May 27 deadline, illustrating the rule’s lasting impact on talent pipelines.

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Moreno Withdraws

Malachi Moreno withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft and will return for 2026-27 season.
Coach Mark Pope said Moreno was the program’s No. 1 priority entering the portal.
Yahoo Sports ranked him No. 23 overall and CBS No. 30 before his withdrawal.
He is the only starter returning after Kentucky’s 22-14 season, having started 30 of 36 games and averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, leading team in rebounds and blocks.

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