The foundation of Kentucky men’s basketball’s 2025 recruiting class is already in place.
The recent commitments of five-star guard Jasper Johnson and four-star center Malachi Moreno — a pair of commonwealth natives whose recruitments were quickly made a priority by new UK coach Mark Pope — mean the Wildcats are in a great spot when it comes to next year’s well-regarded high school class.
UK is the only school with multiple commitments from players ranked in the top 30 of the 247Sports Composite rankings, and one of only three schools (along with Arkansas and Syracuse) with a commitment from a five-star prospect.
Pope’s early recruiting wins mean that, before the ex-BYU and Utah Valley head coach ever steps on the sideline for the Wildcats in a game, there’s already plenty of discussion about how Moreno and Johnson will fit into his preferred playing style.
Based on his time leading BYU and with information gleaned from a summer of Kentucky basketball practices, along with some expert analysis, here’s how Moreno and Johnson project to fit together at UK.
Analyzing Jasper Johnson’s fit with Malachi Moreno at UK
Let’s start with Johnson, a consensus five-star guard who is known as a lethal long-range scorer and a versatile backcourt presence.
The 6-foot-4, 175-pound Johnson boasts extensive playing experience in both on-ball and off-ball roles, which brings exceptional value to a Kentucky team that will continue to pursue guard options in both the high school recruiting and transfer portal ranks for the 2025-26 season.
But it’s Johnson’s most well-known skill — the ability to make 3-pointers — that currently shapes up to be his greatest asset alongside Moreno (6-foot-11, 230 pounds), who is still viewed as more of a traditional big man.
“Johnson’s shooting gravity will open up a lot for his teammates, especially Moreno,” Zach Welch, an analyst for Pro Insight Basketball, told the Herald-Leader. “In the pick-and-roll, Johnson will likely draw aggressive ball screen coverages, which will open up lanes for Moreno to slip and operate both in the short-roll, and as a rim runner.”
When he committed to Kentucky last week during a ceremony held at Woodford County High School in Versailles (Johnson’s former school), Johnson noted the force with which Moreno operates around the rim.
Both Johnson and his father Dennis — the former Harrodsburg, UK and NFL football player who now serves as the head football coach and athletic director at Woodford County — also spoke highly of Pope’s fast-paced offensive system.
Pope’s final BYU team last season averaged 81.4 points per game and attempted the second-most 3-pointers per game of any team in the nation. The elder Johnson said he believes this type of offensive system will prepare his son for the NBA.
And the younger Johnson agrees.
“I feel like I can fit into (Pope’s) system well. Offensively based, a lot of shooting. Really scoring the ball, and that’s what I am,” Johnson said. “He has a plan for me: Point guard, shooting guard, scoring the ball, facilitating, just doing everything I need to do to win the game.”
Johnson is already projected as a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA draft following what would be a one-and-done stay at UK.
Analyzing Malachi Moreno’s fit with Jasper Johnson at UK
As for Moreno, the Great Crossing High School star is considered a strong offensive playmaker despite his current lack of 3-point shooting.
In both settings with Great Crossing (which reached the semifinals of the 2024 Sweet 16 state tournament) and his Indiana Elite team on the Adidas grassroots circuit, Moreno has displayed above-average ball skills, which will allow him to pair well with talented backcourt scorers such as Johnson.
“Moreno is comfortable operating as an (offensive) hub and can operate out of the short-roll, which will help him find Johnson for open looks as an off-ball shooter,” said Welch, the Pro Insight Basketball analyst. “Moreno’s ball skills will also come in handy as Johnson has a proclivity for playing with pace and getting out in transition, so Moreno can consistently kick off fast breaks, either with proactive outlet passes or even some grab-and-go situations.”
One of the most intriguing tidbits of information to emerge from UK basketball’s summer practices this offseason has been the speed with which the Wildcats intend to play.
There’s been talk, and evidence, of UK aiming to get the ball beyond half court in just three seconds and to get a shot up within 14 seconds. Having a big man with legit ball skills will aid this pursuit.
And let’s not forget about Kentucky’s other well-known offensive goal for the upcoming season: to attempt a whopping 35 3-pointers per game.
While it won’t come overnight, there’s optimism that Moreno will evolve into the kind of offensive presence who can let it fly from deep.
“Based on what he’s shown throughout his high school career, I would think, in time, especially in Pope’s offense — the way he can be used as both a rim roller and screener — I think he can eventually become a real pick-and-pop threat for them,” 247Sports national analyst Travis Branham told the Herald-Leader last month. “I think in time, he can really evolve his game and become a much more well-rounded offensive weapon.”
Don’t forget about the defensive end, either. With the Warhawks last season, Moreno averaged nearly four blocks per contest.
“Defensively, Moreno’s timing and ball tracking as a rim protector will offer an extra layer of insulation,” Welch added. “(This) will enable Johnson to take more risks along the perimeter.”
Which future players would complement Moreno, Johnson at UK?
The college basketball recruiting world moves fast. As soon as one recruitment ends, countless others begin or continue.
Even after securing a pair of top-30 players in the span of just 20 days, this is true for Pope and Kentucky. The Wildcats are set to host another five-star class of 2025 prospect — power forward Caleb Wilson of Atlanta — later this week for an official visit.
So with this in mind, what type of player should Pope and Kentucky be pursuing to complement the existing commitments of Moreno and Johnson for the 2025-26 roster?
“Kentucky might do well to target a downhill guard that can operate in the pick-and-roll and toggle on and off the ball,” Welch said. “A guard that puts pressure on the rim consistently and can operate out of these advantage situations will generate better shooting windows for Johnson and complement Moreno’s pick-and-roll versatility, as well.”
In this respect, there are several high school recruits to watch for the Wildcats.
UK is still involved with five-star point guard Mikel Brown Jr., four-star shooting guard Braylon Mullins (an AAU teammate of Moreno’s) and combo guards Brayden Burries and Acaden Lewis.
Brown is set to visit UK later this month, and Mullins has a trip to UK planned for late October.
In the frontcourt, Welch also specified the type of bigs that UK should be after.
“Additionally, a forward who can serve as a weakside rim protector and offer off-ball equity offensively will maximize both (Moreno and Johnson’s) talents and fortify their weaknesses,” Welch said.
At the top of Kentucky’s wish list at this position is Wilson, who was first recruited to UK by former coach John Calipari.
After a slow start to his second recruitment by Kentucky with Pope leading the program, Wilson is once again a key focus for the Wildcats when it comes to the 2025 class.
UK is one of 12 schools still in the running for Wilson, along with Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Central Florida, Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oregon, Southern California and Tennessee.
In addition to Wilson, other frontcourt recruits to watch are power forwards Nate Ament, Niko Bundalo and Tounde Yessoufou, and center Chris Cenac.
Of course, the transfer portal will again loom large for UK next offseason as Pope fills out his roster. Seven players on the 2024-25 UK roster will be out of NCAA eligibility after this season.
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