Kentucky's Malachi Moreno (24) scores a basket before the buzzer to give the Wildcats a 75-74 win against Louisiana State at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)Malachi Moreno is taking the next step in evaluating his future, announcing he will test the NBA Draft waters while maintaining the option to return to Kentucky Basketball. Jon Chepkevich of Draft Express broke the news Monday night, adding that if Moreno withdraws from the draft, it will be to play for Kentucky, so it appears the transfer portal is no longer an option for the Bluegrass product.Moreno has since confirmed the news on Instagram.If Im back in college next season, itll be right here with Big Blue Nation, he wrote on IG.The move allows Moreno to receive feedback from NBA scouts while preserving his college eligibility, a path many players take to better understand what they must improve before making the leap to the professional level.Moreno is coming off an impressive freshman campaign in which he exceeded expectations. Originally viewed as a developmental piece, he was thrown into a starting role early in the season by Mark Pope due to injuries and inconsistency in the frontcourt.He went on to average 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting 58.2% from the field. He also contributed 1.5 blocks per game and started 30 of 36 contests, becoming a key presence in Kentuckys lineup.Testing the draft waters will give Moreno valuable insight into areas of improvement, particularly his strength, physicality, and overall athleticism.If he does return to Kentucky, the experience could help him take a major leap in his sophomore season. If not, it shows confidence in his long-term NBA potential. Either way, this decision is a critical step in Morenos development as he works toward reaching the next level.NEWS: Kentuckys Malachi Moreno will test the NBA Draft waters, his agent George S. Langberg of @GSLSportsGroup tells DraftExpress.If he withdraws and returns to college, he will be a Kentucky Wildcat next season.The 19-year-old 7-footer averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 pic.twitter.com/sSP0Qk1yZv Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) April 6, 2026View this post on InstagramAdd us to your Preferred Sources on Google to get the latest Kentucky Wildcats news and views! And Go CATS!!