The sole center prospect on UNC basketball’s 2025 offer list has included the Tar Heels among his final eight choices.
During UNC’s active recruitment period in late May, Malachi Moreno, a center from Great Crossing High School in Kentucky, has included the UNC basketball program among the remaining contenders for his services. Moreno informed On3’s Joe Tipton on Monday that he has narrowed down his choices to eight schools: UNC, Notre Dame, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State, Iowa, and Louisville. The 17-year-old four-star prospect has significantly risen in rankings, moving from No. 53 last year to No. 28 overall and is now ranked second among centers on the 247Sports 2025 Composite. He has received over two dozen offers during his recruitment process.
He has recently ruled out Virginia Tech and NC State, both of which are ACC rivals of the Tar Heels.
While Tipton noted that there is no specific timeline for a decision in this competitive recruitment process, Moreno has previously set a deadline of October 24, his 18th birthday.
He has already made trips to Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Arkansas, and Iowa. According to Tipton, he has not yet arranged any future visits; however, 247Sports’ Jeff Rabjohns recently stated that Moreno plans to visit Indiana again officially. This visit is scheduled for the third weekend in September and will include another UNC basketball target, Braylon Mullins from Greenfield-Central School (Ind.), a four-star guard in the 2025 class.
Currently, Malachi Moreno remains among the 15 undecided high school seniors who have received offers from UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis. He has not yet disclosed a list of finalists that does not include the Tar Heels.
Moreno is the only center on UNC’s wishlist.
