Malachi Moreno withdraws from 2026 draft

Malachi Moreno is out of the 2026 NBA Draft and headed back to Kentucky for his sophomore season, according to reports published Monday. The move keeps the Wildcats’ starting center in Lexington after Moreno tested the draft process this spring. Moreno had entered as an early-entry candidate, which allowed him to gather feedback from NBA teams while preserving the option to return to school before the NCAA deadline. The NBA’s list of early entrants said college players had to withdraw by Wednesday, May 27, to retain eligibility. ### Who is Malachi Moreno, and why did this decision matter? Malachi Moreno is a 7-foot, 250-pound center from Georgetown, Kentucky, according to his UK Athletics roster page. As a freshman in 2025-26, Moreno appeared in all 36 games and made 30 starts for Kentucky. He averaged 7.8 points, a team-high 6.3 rebounds and 1.47 blocks per game while shooting 58.2% from the field, and he earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors. (msn.com) Kentucky coach Mark Pope had identified Moreno as one of the program’s key returning pieces after the season, and Moreno’s size and production made him one of the more closely watched stay-or-go decisions on the roster, according to prior Kentucky-area reporting. Moreno also led the team in field-goal percentage and posted three double-doubles during the season, UK Athletics said. (ukathletics.com) ### When did Moreno enter the draft, and what deadline was he facing? The NBA announced on April 27 that 71 players had filed as early-entry candidates for the 2026 draft, and Moreno was among the college players testing the process. Under NBA rules, early entrants can remain in the draft until June 13, but NCAA rules required college players to withdraw by May 27 to keep their eligibility. (ukathletics.com) May 25 reports said Moreno had decided to pull out before that college deadline and return to Kentucky. One report said he had canceled remaining workouts with NBA teams and informed Pope of his decision on Sunday. ### What had Moreno said about the decision before withdrawing? Last week, Kentucky-area coverage described Moreno as weighing NBA feedback against the option to return to school. (pr.nba.com) Reports at the time said he was considered by some evaluators to be on the edge of first-round consideration, while many mock drafts did not project him among the top picks. (msn.com) Earlier reporting also said Kentucky’s name, image and likeness environment could be a factor in the decision, alongside Moreno’s long-stated goal of eventually reaching the NBA. Those reports framed the choice as a balance between immediate professional entry and another year of development in college. (kentuckytoday.com) ### What does Kentucky get back with Moreno returning? Kentucky gets back a center who started 30 games and finished his freshman season as the team leader in rebounds, blocks and field-goal percentage. Moreno also delivered several notable performances, including a game-winning jumper at LSU in January and a stat line against Mississippi State that UK Athletics said was rare for a 7-footer in Division I. (indystar.com) Mark Pope’s roster for 2026-27 had been facing uncertainty at center if Moreno stayed in the draft. Reports before Monday said Moreno’s return would solidify one of Kentucky’s most important frontcourt spots heading into next season. ### What happens next in the draft process? Wednesday, May 27, is the NCAA withdrawal deadline for players who want to return to college basketball, according to NBA Communications. (ukathletics.com) The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23 and June 24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with the first round on June 23 and the second round on June 24. (pr.nba.com) (sports.yahoo.com)