All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball: Huge 2025 Prep Grabs Tar Heel Attention

The UNC basketball coaches recently contacted 7-footer Malachi Moreno.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Matt Stone-USA TODAY NETWORK
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Great Crossing (Ky.) center Malachi Moreno looks to decide on a college by June, the 7-foot-1, 220-pound four-star told On3's Joe Tipton two weeks ago. So, if the UNC basketball coaches hope to land the breakout high school junior, who wants to get his recruitment out of way earlier than most, they may need to hurry up with an offer.

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And there's reason to believe an offer from the Tar Heels could arrive shortly. On Thursday, Moreno informed Tipton that UNC and fellow blueblood Kansas reached out to him this week. Home-state hopeful Kentucky has been in the mix for his services since late October.

His only official visit to date was to Iowa in early October, although it's worth mentioning that he's checked out Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, and several others in an unofficial capacity, per Tipton.

Moreno, a long-limbed giant with dozens of suitors from coast to coast, models his game after Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis and now ranks No. 34 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite. That's up 34 spots from where he sat as recently as December.

In other words, there's no denying his stock is on the rise.

After watching Moreno shine at the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the week after Christmas, On3's Jamie Shaw listed him among the showcase's standouts while providing the following breakdown of his budding abilities and eye-popping box scores:

"Malachi Moreno is tall, and that goes without saying. But he also knows how to use his height to his advantage...He has excellent hands and is mobile with a loose frame. He tracks the ball well on the boards, high-pointing the ball in traffic...

"He stretched the floor with a pick-and-pop three and finished with both hands around the basket. His championship performance was a very well-run clinic that he put on around the basket. He finished with 24 points, 25 rebounds, and two blocks in the championship game. The event's Most Outstanding Player's three-game rebound total of 54 put him at No. 3 in the event's 43-year history."

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis' 2025 offer sheet is nine deep, consisting of purely five-star prospects.

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Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI.com for more 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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