Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats earned a major win on the recruiting trail Friday morning as Kentucky’s own Malachi Moreno announced his commitment.

Hailing from Great Crossing High School just up the road in Georgetown, Moreno was graded a four-star prospect by 247Sports.

In an open event in the gymnasium of GCHS with students, family and media in attendance, Moreno invited his teammates to stand around him as he unzipped his jacket to reveal a UK T-shirt.

“I will be taking my talents to the University of Kentucky,” Moreno said as the UK fight song played in the gymnasium. “There’s no place like home.”

The Warhawk big man had received interest from numerous major programs around the country including Arkansas, led by former Kentucky head coach John Calipari, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio State, but Moreno opted to instead stay home and join Pope in Lexington.

Standing at 6-foot, 11-inches and weighing in around 230 pounds, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein spoke highly of Moreno in his report.

“Moreno has game-changing size in the lane and a good skill set for a true center,” Finkelstein wrote. “He’s not just one of the better big men in the country, but also one who can easily adapt to offensive structure and play from various spots on the floor in different offensive schemes.”

The commitment was a big win for Pope as he tries to lock down his first true recruiting class in Kentucky blue, taking the job after Calipari departed for Arkansas in the offseason, leaving the former 1996 National Champion to comprise his first UK roster of almost entirely transfers.

Pope remains on the hunt for other big names like Jasper Johnson, Chris Cenac and Eric Reibe, with the commitment of Moreno potentially being a factor that could help the new man in charge going forward.

“You know where home’s at, Jasper,” Moreno said after committing.