Braylon Mullins on Malachi Moreno’s Rise: “He’s Going to Do Big Things at Kentucky” Former Teammates Reflect on Friendship, Growth, and One Last Battle
LEXINGTON, Ky. — For Braylon Mullins and Malachi Moreno, it all started in eighth grade two talented kids on the same AAU team, grinding through summers on the adidas 3SSB circuit with Indiana Elite. They were just teenagers with dreams, playing side-by-side and talking about what the future might hold. Maybe, just maybe, they’d end up on the same college team one day.
For a moment, that dream looked like it was going to come true. Mullins now crowned Indiana’s Mr. Basketball seriously considered Kentucky. The sharpshooting five-star guard loved Mark Pope and the vision for his game. He had a strong connection to Moreno, who was locked in with the Wildcats and had made it clear he wanted Mullins in Lexington, too.
“He was gonna make sure I put that UK shirt on,” Mullins recalled with a laugh.
But then came Jasper Johnson. Kentucky put their chips on the in-state five-star guard, and while the staff still liked Mullins, the fit became murky. Meanwhile, UConn surged, led by Dan Hurley and back-to-back national championships. Mullins went on his first official visit to Storrs in August. By October, he was a Husky.
And yet, the respect and love for Kentucky and for Moreno never faded.
“I still love Pope,” Mullins said. “He really taught me how to understand the game analytically, showed me where I could grow. It wasn’t a knock on Kentucky. UConn was just the best fit.”
While Mullins heads to Storrs, Moreno is already making himself at home in Lexington, rooming with Jasper Johnson and preparing for what’s expected to be a breakout freshman year in the SEC. But before they go their separate ways for good, the two Indiana Elite alums met one last time this time as rivals in the annual Kentucky/Indiana All-Star Game at Lexington Catholic.
It was, in every way, the perfect send-off.
“It’s just all laughs when you’re out here,” Mullins said after the game. “It’s weird seeing him in a different jersey… but it was definitely a good time.”
In a showcase of two future college stars, both players delivered in a big way. Mullins led Indiana to a comeback 98–89 win, finishing with 24 points on 10-18 shooting, six rebounds, and two assists in 32 minutes. Moreno, representing Kentucky, poured in 22 points, grabbed 14 boards, and added four blocks, three assists, and a steal in 39 minutes.
It was a classic battle Mr. Basketball vs. Mr. Basketball with the added emotion of knowing this might be their final time sharing the same floor.
“I’ve been playing with him for so long, and now we’re ending it by playing against each other,” Moreno said. “It’s special.”
After the game, the two hugged it out and posed for one final group photo, honoring years of memories and milestones they’d shared on and off the court. While they’re headed in different directions now, the bond remains unshaken.
“He’s going to do great things at Kentucky,” Mullins said of Moreno. “There’s nobody else you’d rather be around. He’s gotten so much stronger and smarter with the game. Even tonight, you could tell he wasn’t 100%, but he still made a huge presence in the paint.”
Mullins watched it all unfold over the years from a lanky project to a dominant 7-footer with soft hands and elite instincts. When the rise in rankings came and Moreno became the No. 1 center in the 2025 class, Mullins wasn’t surprised.
“Back in AAU, he was impacting every game,” he said. “Whether it was blocks, rebounds, or finishing at the rim, he always showed up. It was good to see him finally get the recognition he deserves.”
As for whether they’ll meet again maybe in March? Maybe in April?
“Man, how cool would that be Final Four, Indiana vs. Kentucky?” Mullins said, smiling.
Different jerseys. Different dreams. But always intertwined. For Braylon Mullins and Malachi Moreno, the journey isn’t over it’s just entering a new chapter. And if Friday night was any indication, the best is yet to come.
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