“Malachi Moreno Calls Mark Pope ‘A Cheat Code’ After USA Basketball Camp: Inside the Big Man’s Fast Track to Kentucky Greatness

“Malachi Moreno Calls Mark Pope ‘A Cheat Code’ After USA Basketball Camp: Inside the Big Man’s Fast Track to Kentucky Greatness”

 

Malachi Moreno didn’t get a full run at the USA Basketball U19 Training Camp this summer, but the 7-footer out of Georgetown, Kentucky, may have walked away with something even more valuable than a roster spot an early head start with his new head coach, Mark Pope.

The Kentucky freshman big man, who was limited due to a minor hip strain, still participated in drills and workouts before mutually stepping away from the team selection process. But for Moreno, the real win was soaking up every moment with Pope, who served as an assistant on the U19 staff.

“It was kind of almost like a cheat code,” Moreno said Thursday. “Having Coach Pope there and getting a real look at how he coaches it gave me a huge advantage. And being able to go up against some of the best players in the country? That just got me more ready for what’s next.”

A Unique Bond Already Forming

When Moreno and Pope flew back to Lexington from Colorado Springs, they returned not just with stronger chemistry but with a clearer vision of their mission at Kentucky. For Moreno, it’s all about being coachable, teachable, and battle-tested.

“This is going to be such an easy coach to play for,” Moreno said. “He’s a big teacher. I’m just here to be a sponge.”

That “teacher” role is especially impactful for a young big man learning the ropes, because Pope isn’t just talking from a clipboard he’s speaking from experience. The former NBA center hasn’t hesitated to jump into drills during practice and show Moreno and the other frontcourt players how it’s done.

“When we do skill groups, he comes down with the bigs, shows us footwork, back-to-the-basket stuff, using our bodies. I’ve already improved a lot because of him.”

A Coach Who Cares Off the Court

What might be even more important than Pope’s Xs and Os? His off-the-court presence. In just a few short weeks, Moreno says Pope has gone beyond basketball, acting as a mentor and even a father figure.

“He always checks on me not just about hoops, but about life. How I’m doing, how my family’s doing. That’s meant a lot.”

For a kid who grew up understanding what Kentucky basketball means to the Commonwealth, Moreno already feels the weight—and the privilege—of putting on that jersey. But under Pope’s guidance, it doesn’t feel heavy. It feels possible.

Locked In on One Goal: Banner No. 9

Whether he plays five minutes a game or 25, Moreno is focused on the ultimate goal—something every Wildcat fan dreams about.

“I’ve got one goal and one goal only: to win number nine. That’s it. As long as we’re winning, I couldn’t care less about anything else.”

With his size, his work ethic, and a coach who knows exactly how to mold him, Malachi Moreno may be the under-the-radar freshman who ends up playing a critical role in Kentucky’s quest for championship No. 9.

And if Pope really is a cheat code? Big Blue Nation just might be in for a serious power-up