Mark Pope addresses Kentucky Basketball roster, Malachi Moreno NBA decision, and more

Nov 14, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks to center Malachi Moreno (24) during the second half against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Kentucky Basketball head coach Mark Pope addressed fan concerns on Wednesday, answering questions about recruiting, the transfer portal, and the Wildcats’ roster outlook heading into the 2026-27 season.

With some frustration building among the fan base following missed recruiting targets, Pope took to social media a three-minute video to provide clarity on the program’s direction. One of the topics centered around NIL and whether Kentucky is being used as leverage by recruits. Pope didn’t shy away from the question.

“Yes, we are the biggest brand in college basketball,” Pope said during the video.

Recruiting was another major focus, especially after Kentucky missed on several top prospects in the 2026 class. Pope explained that while the staff aimed to get as many elite players on campus as possible, their attention was heavily centered on 5-star forward Tyran Stokes.

“This year, we were chasing a generational talent, and we fell a little short, but we weren’t sitting on our hands. We put together a roster that we are going to love watching, crush it in Rupp Arena,” Pope said.

The center position also remains a key factor, with Malachi Moreno currently testing the NBA Draft waters. Pope emphasized that Kentucky is fully supporting Moreno through the process while continuing to build depth at the position.

“Malachi Moreno was our number 1 priority for us, going into this portal season. We think that he is going to be the best center in all of college basketball next year here at Kentucky. He is also going through the (NBA) Draft process. He had a great workout just last night for an NBA team.