Moreno Trending First Round

[Praetorian Cat]

Prove it, lol. It's all hypothetical at this point.

You realize that a college player can early Name Image Likeness via marketing? Do you think some bench rookie is going to earn marketing dollars? Lol.

You realize that part of what brought Mullins & Haugh back was exactly that - marketing opportunities. They are projected lottery picks and returning sophomores.

He hasn't withdrawn yet because he's going through the combine to get feedback and the cut off date is later this month.

You really are clueless. Carry on. I can't spar with bozos like you.

And when he announces he's back, you can come back and apologize.

Lol, if you have no proof, it's just conjecture on your part.

Problem is at UK, the deal we have with JMI isn't very encouraging of outside deals. So, no they tend to be capped here where they aren't in the NBA.

Yes, anyone with name recognition can earn endorsement deals. He can literally come to KY and do them if that's where the audience is. And yes, rookies earn marketing dollars too.

They wanted to be higher picks and likely play foor a NC. Does Moreno want the same or is he okay with late first rd and 2nd rd pick? Is he willing to play for a NCAA bud and maybe 6th in the conference?

So he hasn't WD because he is just going through the process but the others went ahead and WD now? They not interested in the process and feedback?

Lol, you mean you can't bring supporting evidence and can only make claims based on your feelings. Got it!

What would I have to apologize for? I've never stated 1 way or the other what he would do. I am just laying out the facts.

 

[BMR1987]

We really live in a time where Thomas Haugh, who honestly should've went pro after Florida won their championship in 2025, is turning down projected lottery pick money and a year closer to that "second NBA contract" (which is what this board used to say to justify players leaving before they were lottery), while we're on pins and needles seeing if a fringe first round center that looked awful against Santa Clara (but still better than anything we have on the roster) will return.

Some will use it as an excuse for a bad or mediocre season, I will see it as more of an indictment against the current state of the program.

 

[BookofMormon]

Lol, if you have no proof, it's just conjecture on your part.

Problem is at UK, the deal we have with JMI isn't very encouraging of outside deals. So, no they tend to be capped here where they aren't in the NBA.

Yes, anyone with name recognition can earn endorsement deals. He can literally come to KY and do them if that's where the audience is. And yes, rookies earn marketing dollars too.

They wanted to be higher picks and likely play foor a NC. Does Moreno want the same or is he okay with late first rd and 2nd rd pick? Is he willing to play for a NCAA bud and maybe 6th in the conference?

So he hasn't WD because he is just going through the process but the others went ahead and WD now? They not interested in the process and feedback?

Lol, you mean you can't bring supporting evidence and can only make claims based on your feelings. Got it!

What would I have to apologize for? I've never stated 1 way or the other what he would do. I am just laying out the facts.

Your ask of evidence is fascinating - like what do you expect? Me to come to you with Moreno's standing contract?

What I know is if the Kentucky NIL deal was that bad, he would have portaled out while testing because centers are going for a ton this year.

Why would he not test the CBB market if his UK deal is under market? Answer me that. He had every opportunity to, could have even came back like Rob Wright did. You realize the player has the leverage, right?

NBA deals not capped? There is a standard rookie rate - it's not free agency. Dude, where do you get your info?

Your facts are not facts - go fact check yourself.

 

[Rainmaker]

There are several in the draft that will pull out, as well as guys who didn't declare who would be top players if they came to college. Time to get our heads out of our *** and land an impact type guy. The staff doesn't seem to be looking to do that but it is a huge risk and IMO its a must at this point.

Other than the NBA draft pull outs and ones we have seen mentioned a lot here are young players Euros, 17 or turning 17 soon to look at:
Messi Yangala
Nikola Kusturica
Nathan Soliman
Petar Bjelica
Godson Okokoh (in next yearsHS class, lots of upside)
Diego Garavaglia (18 and I wish we'd go get)

So many others but these guys would be almost certainly needle movers.

​

 

[TheResistance]

 

[ZaytovenCat]

I’m hoping he leaves. We are gonna suck *** next year even if he stays so might as well suck as big as possible just to make sure Pope gets fired and there’s not even a snowballs chance in hell of a year 4.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

Tell me how many teams would have won the championship without their starting point guard, no backup point guard to replace him. Aberdeen was not and is not a point guard. And who also lost 2 other top 8 players. That's 3 of the top 8 out. 2 almost the entire year and the other the final 2 months. Can wait to see this long list of schools since you think injuries is just a weak excuse.

My god we sucked even when everybody played.

 

[Goingfor9]

Malachi Moreno on the cusp of 1st Round in new NBA Mock Draft

Could Malachi Moreno climb into the first round of the NBA Draft? One mock draft has him on the cusp ahead of next week's NBA Draft Combine.

www.on3.com

If he declares, Lordy, what a season it will be! I believe he will do very well in the combine, boom, gone.

What you think is on the table for his nIL? 2-3 mil because pope thinks we get the hometown discount?

duke lacrosse did less damage to duke mbball, U6 did less damage to lullville than this offseason has done to UK mbball. You can point fingers why- idc- this offseason has tanked UK mbball.

There really is only one reason maybe two

 

[Praetorian Cat]

Your ask of evidence is fascinating - like what do you expect? Me to come to you with Moreno's standing contract?

What I know is if the Kentucky NIL deal was that bad, he would have portaled out while testing because centers are going for a ton this year.

Why would he not test the CBB market if his UK deal is under market? Answer me that. He had every opportunity to, could have even came back like Rob Wright did. You realize the player has the leverage, right?

NBA deals not capped? There is a standard rookie rate - it's not free agency. Dude, where do you get your info?

Your facts are not facts - go fact check yourself.

Lol, someone asking you to provide evidence to support your claims is fascinating to you? Interesting!

Is a million or 2 bad money? What makes him so coveted? Is he unicorn or something or just the best we could get. He also grew up here and as a fan.

Because as I just pointed out, he may not be all about money and may want to be close to home and a support system. What leverage does he have? He is literally testing out another option right now.

Lol, they can earn additional aside from their salary from the league, right? So their earnings aren't capped. How are you confused by that?

You're so clueless it's amusing.

 

[Coach Ken Reeves]

Zero chance he goes first round.

 

[BookofMormon]

Lol, someone asking you to provide evidence to support your claims is fascinating to you? Interesting!

Is a million or 2 bad money? What makes him so coveted? Is he unicorn or something or just the best we could get. He also grew up here and as a fan.

Because as I just pointed out, he may not be all about money and may want to be close to home and a support system. What leverage does he have? He is literally testing out another option right now.

Lol, they can earn additional aside from their salary from the league, right? So their earnings aren't capped. How are you confused by that?

You're so clueless it's amusing.

You speak as though you don't follow the sport, at all.

I've already gone through this - he's a talented center. Centers are at a premium. It's been widely covered how much top centers are going for 3-5mm. This surpasses any second round contract he could get, by a mile. It could be more than two years worth of a late first round contract. Even if he's going for a home town discount, it wouldn't be far off market.

He has a ton of leverage as a player in high demand. This is simple economics my friend.

You are claiming he's going to be earning marketing dollars in the NBA? You think the NBA is marketing Malachi Moreno? When they have only 100 more stars out there? You think he's going to get Kentucky marketing dollars in the NBA, when the NBA has UK grads that are stars?

Bro, pass over what you're smoking. You are a bozo deluxe. Start paying attention and get back to me.

 

[Praetorian Cat]

You speak as though you don't follow the sport, at all.

I've already gone through this - he's a talented center. Centers are at a premium. It's been widely covered how much top centers are going for 3-5mm. This surpasses any second round contract he could get, by a mile. It could be more than two years worth of a late first round contract. Even if he's going for a home town discount, it wouldn't be far off market.

He has a ton of leverage as a player in high demand. This is simple economics my friend.

You are claiming he's going to be earning marketing dollars in the NBA? You think the NBA is marketing Malachi Moreno? When they have only 100 more stars out there? You think he's going to get Kentucky marketing dollars in the NBA, when the NBA has UK grads that are stars?

Bro, pass over what you're smoking. You are a bozo deluxe. Start paying attention and get back to me.

Do I? Appears the opposite to me.

He's so talented and coveted that you're claiming he isn't even good enough to be drafted or considered? That's a bit of a contradiction on your part.

You provided a screenshot earlier of another "top" center who got less than you projected.

Are you saying 2nd rounders never get good offers? You really sure want to go with that?

Yes, particularly in places like KY where he has a following. Moreno is also permitted to market himself. The NBA doesn't have to do it for him. Lol.

So you're saying UK is going to pay millions for a non-star? Or are you saying he is only a star player in CBB? Lol. You're arguing yourself in circles.

 

[BookofMormon]

Do I? Appears the opposite to me.

He's so talented and coveted that you're claiming he isn't even good enough to be drafted or considered? That's a bit of a contradiction on your part.

You provided a screenshot earlier of another "top" center who got less than you projected.

Are you saying 2nd rounders never get good offers? You really sure want to go with that?

Yes, particularly in places like KY where he has a following. Moreno is also permitted to market himself. The NBA doesn't have to do it for him. Lol.

So you're saying UK is going to pay millions for a non-star? Or are you saying he is only a star player in CBB? Lol. You're arguing yourself in circles.

Oh boy, you're an easy one to spar with - here is a list of all the other centers who cashed in, who didn't go into the draft and got paid out in NIL:

https://247sports.com/season/2026-basketball/transferportalpositionranking/?positionkey=35

Coveted in college doesn't equal NBA draft potential.

Yes, I'm saying second rounders never get offers nearly as good as what centers are getting in NIL. Why did Krivas come back? He is a much more highly touted 5.

Moreno would make more in NIL marketing at UK that he would as an NBA bench warmer. There are about 50 UK players ahead of him in the NBA that are more attractive to market.

You should stop here before is slap some senses into you. You sound drunk.

 

[UKGrad24]

Fo sho.

Thought so. Wanna burn later?

 

[DudahUK]

Thought so. Wanna burn later?

Would absolutely love to. We know each other in real life? lol.

 

[Praetorian Cat]

Oh boy, you're an easy one to spar with - here is a list of all the other centers who cashed in, who didn't go into the draft and got paid out in NIL:

https://247sports.com/season/2026-basketball/transferportalpositionranking/?positionkey=35

Coveted in college doesn't equal NBA draft potential.

Yes, I'm saying second rounders never get offers nearly as good as what centers are getting in NIL. Why did Krivas come back? He is a much more highly touted 5.

Moreno would make more in NIL marketing at UK that he would as an NBA bench warmer. There are about 50 UK players ahead of him in the NBA that are more attractive to market.

You should stop here before is slap some senses into you. You sound drunk.

Oh, wow! Amazing list of these top centers! Lol.
You might want to actually look at the stats for most of the guys and get back to us on what makes them top centers or highly coveted. If they are getting millions, someone is getting robbed.

Now...how much are their deals?

Ohh, so they are so good they are just coveted in CBB, but the NBA has little to no interest.

Wasn't Kyle Filipowski recently a 2nd rd pick and end up with a large guaranteed deal?
How could someone as astute to basketball not know that?

Krivas is slower with no outside game. He is viewed as a more traditional big that hasn't translated as well to the NBA recently.

Read your last sentence again and tell me who sounds drunk.


"You should stop here before is slap some senses into you. You sound drunk."

 

[BookofMormon]

Oh, wow! Amazing list of these top centers! Lol.

Now...how much are their deals?

Ohh, so they are so good they are just coveted in CBB, but the NBA has little to no interest.

Wasn't Kyle Filipowski recently a 2nd rd pick and end up with a large guaranteed deal?
How could someone as astute to basketball not know that?

Krivas is slower with no outside game. He is viewed as a more traditional big that hasn't translated as well to the NBA recently.

Read your last sentence again and tell me who sounds drunk.


"You should stop here before is slap some senses into you. You sound drunk."

Kyle Filipowski? Lol. You're going to use a one off. Why not look at a center, Ryan Kalkbrenner, last year's 34th pick - 2 year guaranteed at 4.7mm total, along with just about every other second rounder.

Like I stated (shared a figure around Hines), top end centers this year are going between 3.5mm and 5mm.

Now Moreno is going to be one of the "exceptional" contracts?

Krivas was mocked between 20-25 in just about every mock out there. Now you, the astute talent evaluator, is saying Moreno is better? Moreno is fleet of foot? I know, you are vastly smarter than 247. Pat Ngongba, also returnning 5 to Duke was mocked in the low 20's. Both are widely considered better prospects than Moreno.

Why leave in this talent rich draft when there is a very weak one coming?

There is 0% chance, unless he wants out of UK and doesn't want to hurt the feelings of the locals. Or he's just dumb.

 

[Lameguy]

That will probably be close to happening regardless as of right now, unless we fill these last couple spots with NBA drop outs. The issue is only 71 entered this year so that’s only 11 without a spot really if they want to go.

You do realize surely that the seniors and overseas players can also be drafted, my guess is more than 11 of these will be undrafted

 

[Praetorian Cat]

Kyle Filipowski? Lol. You're going to use a one off. Why not look at a center, Ryan Kalkbrenner, last year's 34th pick - 2 year guaranteed at 4.7mm total, along with just about every other second rounder.

Like I stated (shared a figure around Hines), top end centers this year are going between 3.5mm and 5mm.

Now Moreno is going to be one of the "exceptional" contracts?

Krivas was mocked between 20-25 in just about every mock out there. Now you, the astute talent evaluator, is saying Moreno is better? Moreno is fleet of foot? I know, you are vastly smarter than 247. Pat Ngongba, also returnning 5 to Duke was mocked in the low 20's. Both are widely considered better prospects than Moreno.

Why leave in this talent rich draft when there is a very weak one coming?

There is 0% chance, unless he wants out of UK and doesn't want to hurt the feelings of the locals. Or he's just dumb.

Your words, "Yes, I'm saying second rounders never get offers nearly as good as what centers are getting in NIL. Why did Krivas come back? He is a much more highly touted 5."

Just using Flip to point out how wrong you were. Sorry that offended you. There were also others. Of course, I'm sure with your astute basketball mind, you're already aware. Lol

Earlier you said 4 -5. So now it's down to 3.5? Your goalposts shift quick!

Exceptional? Oh wow? How Exceptional? Any proof?

I don't think I said any of those things. I was just pointing out why he withdrew. However, I do think Moreno is likely more athletic and more potential as a long range shooter, thus is more appealing to scouts.

Sure seems odd they were better prospects and WD, but the worse prospect is just gathering feedback. Lol

Because you want to play in the NBA and see an opportunity now. You feel it's better long term for you and not because a fan tells you differently.

Or it's what he wants and he gets the guarantees he wants. Then it's smart.

 

[DudahUK]

You do realize surely that the seniors and overseas players can also be drafted, my guess is more than 11 of these will be undrafted

He’s not a complete idiot. Just partial.

 

[BookofMormon]

Your words, "Yes, I'm saying second rounders never get offers nearly as good as what centers are getting in NIL. Why did Krivas come back? He is a much more highly touted 5."

Just using Flip to point out how wrong you were. Sorry that offended you. There were also others. Of course, I'm sure with your astute basketball mind, you're already aware. Lol

Earlier you said 4 -5. So now it's down to 3.5? Your goalposts shift quick!

Exceptional? Oh wow? How Exceptional? Any proof?

I don't think I said any of those things. I was just pointing out why he withdrew. However, I do think Moreno is likely more athletic and more potential as a long range shooter, thus is more appealing to scouts.

Sure seems odd they were better prospects and WD, but the worse prospect is just gathering feedback. Lol

Because you want to play in the NBA and see an opportunity now. You feel it's better long term for you and not because a fan tells you differently.

Or it's what he wants and he gets the guarantees he wants. Then it's smart.

On an exceptional 2nd round deal, Filipowki got 6 guaranteed over 2 years - is 5mm over one year, getting drafted earlier next year, while being more NBA ready not the logical direction? Last pick of the first gets 5.5mm guaranteed. Not sure you've heard, but sticking around when you are even fringe is a pretty smart thing to do. At some point, the second round will be nothing but seniors/graduates.

There are no logistical reasons for Moreno to leave (like Ngongba, Krivas, Haugh, Mullins) other than he wants out of dodge. I would think UK prioritized him as a 5 in a CBB world that is all about front courts.

He goes, it will just be another shot at Pope that a kid in the most obvious situation, wants out.

Pitino got his players hookers because he wanted to, but it wasn't smart.

 

[Praetorian Cat]

On an exceptional 2nd round deal, Filipowki got 6 guaranteed over 2 years - is 5mm over one year, getting drafted earlier next year, while being more NBA ready not the logical direction? Last pick of the first gets 5.5mm guaranteed. Not sure you've heard, but sticking around when you are even fringe is a pretty smart thing to do. At some point, the second round will be nothing but seniors/graduates.

There are no logistical reasons for Moreno to leave (like Ngongba, Krivas, Haugh, Mullins) other than he wants out of dodge. I would think UK prioritized him as a 5 in a CBB world that is all about front courts.

He goes, it will just be another shot at Pope that a kid in the most obvious situation, wants out.

Pitino got his players hookers because he wanted to, but it wasn't smart.

It was a 12 million dollar deal with 6 guaranteed. 3rd and 4th year were always likely as long as he performed.

Moreno isn't getting 5 million, let alone 6.

Who says he gets drafted higher next year? Oweh's stock dropped for instance. He was likely a 2nd rounder last year and will go undrafted now. Several others throughout college basketball that hurt themselves the last couple of years by not getting drafted when they could.
Injuries are also a factor.

5.5 million guaranteed is pretty nice, and that's just NBA salary. As we discussed, more ways to earn more. Plus, if a team is wasting a 1st rd pick on him, they are highly unlikely to cut them quick without good reason. Meaning they likely get hears 3 and 4 of their deals.

Lol, when did CBB become all about front courts?

Or it'll be a sign his dream of being in the NBA outweigh his dream of playing CBB at UK, and he heard what he wanted in terms of guarantees from a team in the league. That's life.

Pitino was/is a creep.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

You do realize surely that the seniors and overseas players can also be drafted, my guess is more than 11 of these will be undrafted

Yes, but how many realistically are in the mix this year? Maybe 10-12 of them?

 

[Lameguy]

Yes, but how many realistically are in the mix this year? Maybe 10-12 of them?

According to the mock draft that I saw, 31 out of the top 60 are seniors or foreign players, 2nd round is full of seniors.

 

[UKFootball78]

My god we sucked even when everybody played.

I'm not sure we had a single game were everybody played. One of us is remembering wrong here.

 

[Badabingbadaboom]

Stefaniak also afraid Moreno in First round.
But still insists he will be back at UK.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

Wow! Pope with a potential 1st rounder. Way to go Coach.

 

[Crazy4Blue]

Pope says Moreno will be the best center in the country but honestly I don't think that he is the best center in the state. I love the guy but until he starts playing with a chip on his shoulder, he is just another player. He needs the Oscar mentality that every rebound is his and noone is taking it away. He needs a little "mean" to his game. I would love for him to become the best center in the country.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I'm not sure we had a single game were everybody played. One of us is remembering wrong here.

Definitely you. Check the Alabama and Missouri losses.

 

[Beatle Bum]

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Moreno at UK will be paid like a low lottery pick according to that scale. “Reports” were his agent fielded $4 million offers. I think UK will pay him that or close to that. I think MMill would also be paid close to that. I think Mal comes back after getting feedback.

 

[UKFootball78]

Definitely you. Check the Alabama and Missouri losses.

Gotcha, so 2 games the whole year and neither lowe nor jq were healthy, but hey let's pretend the team should have been playing 100% just as if they had been playing together all year and were fully meshed as a unit...that way we can say the team and coach sucked. Smh at some people's Idiocracy.