All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Finally Enters Fray for Talented 7-Footer

Malachi Moreno becomes the 10th 2025 prospect to receive a UNC basketball offer.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball
UNC basketball / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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A UNC basketball chase in the Malachi Moreno race seemed inevitable. Now, it's official, as the Great Crossing High School (Ky.) big man announced his offer from the Tar Heels on Monday afternoon.

ALSO READ: Kentucky Re-Offers Top-Ranked Tar Heel Recruiting Target

Earlier this month, Moreno listed UNC among the programs he hears from the most, along with Kentucky, Arkansas, Southern Cal, Michigan, Iowa, and Texas.

The 7-foot-1, 220-pound polished center, a four-star prospect ranking No. 38 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, has hinted in the past at ending his recruitment as soon as June, but he's yet to name finalists. So, although UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and his staff are a bit late to the race, perhaps they've arrived on the scene just in time to seize momentum down the homestretch.

Moreno holds dozens of offers. Some view Kentucky as the favorite, seeing that he lives within a half-hour drive from the Wildcats. However, no Crystal Ball predictions exist for the battle.

And it's worth pointing out that Malachi Moreno is now the lone center on the Tar Heels' 10-deep 2025 offer sheet. He's the only four-star on that list, as the other nine are five-star talents boasting top-20 composite rankings.

All 10 UNC targets remain undecided in their recruitments.

ALSO READ: Hubert Davis Now Talking With Parents of Priority Recruit

Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI for more on the Tar Heels' pursuit of Malachi Moreno and other UNC basketball recruiting news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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