Malachi Moreno recently spoke to members of the Kentucky media after a whirlwind offseason that saw the big man flirt with the NBA, before ultimately deciding on more time in Lexington. Moreno spent some time breaking down exactly why he dropped over 10 pounds during the summer throughout that process, per Chris Beasmore on X.
"Last year I was just trying to put on the weight and become a little bit bigger," Moreno said. That was a needed change due to Jayden Quaintance not being healthy enough to play more than four games in the blue and white; Moreno was forced into the spotlight as a result. When it became clear early on that he was playing better than Brandon Garrison, too, it made it even more imperative that Moreno be physically tough enough to handle the grind of the SEC.
But he didn't do it the right way, according to him. "I didn't put it on in the right ways, so after the decision I just decided that I was going to lose it and then put it back on in the right way."
Anyone can gain weight, just eat more calories than you work off. Simple, right? Well, simply being heavier doesn't mean you'll be stronger, faster, or more athletic. That's where the esteemed college weight programs come in.
Kentucky big man Malachi Moreno revealed he lost 10 pounds after the season, but now he's focused on gaining it back, and more, the right way.
— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) June 22, 2026
No more late-night fast food runs. Moreno says he's taking his nutrition and body seriously as he prepares for his sophomore season in… pic.twitter.com/ai1fm5049u
Gaining Weight the Right Way
Kentucky Football outdid itself in this regard with a brand new, cutting-edge locker room this offseason as a part of that effort on a different front. If you want to be good, in any sport, you have to be healthy. Carrying weight you aren't used to isn't easy, and that may have impacted Moreno a time or two last season; all part of the freshman learning curve, no doubt.
Now, having officially come back, the big man is putting on the muscle that will allow him to actually stay fit and be stronger for the long haul. For Moreno, that process starts with cutting out something we all have to admit to taking part in: Fast food.
"No more Raisin' Canes, no more late-night Taco Bell...just taking care of my body," he went on. Eating smart and lifting in the right way will make all the difference in the closing seconds of an SEC bout where a pivotal rebound can decide the contest.
A strong and healthy Malachi Moreno means a strong, and likely very good, Kentucky team. The Big Blue Nation may be in for an entirely different beast at the starting five spot this season.
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