UK Signees Malachi Moreno, Kaelyn Carroll Named McDonald's All-American

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Local product and class of 2025 Kentucky men’s basketball commit Malachi Moreno has been selected to the McDonald’s All American Game, it was announced on Monday.

The game, which is scheduled to take place April 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, is an annual exhibition that features the top high school players from the United States and Canada. A total of 24 players were selected to participate, with Moreno set to represent the East team.

Malachi Moreno (Photo by Wayne Mason)

Moreno is currently a senior at Great Crossings High School in Georgetown, Kentucky. He is ranked as a top three center in his class by all major recruiting services and is a consensus top-40 prospect. The 6-foot-11 big has participated in several high-level recruiting showcases including Adidas Eurocamp, the NBPA Top 100 Camp and the Under Armour Next Elite 24 Showcase.

Moreno becomes the 79th McDonald’s All American to sign with Kentucky since the game first began in 1977, and just the sixth homegrown selection, joining Dirk Minniefield (1979), Winston Bennett (1983), Rex Chapman (1986), Rajon Rondo (2004) and Reed Sheppard (2023).

Kentucky is one of 14 schools with a 2025 McDonald’s All American commit and one of two in the Southeastern Conference.

Moreno joins Jasper Johnson and Acaden Lewis in UK’s class of 2025. The group is currently ranked as the fifth-best class in the country by both 247Sports and On3.

The UK cannot comment on unsigned prospects.

KAELYN CARROLL NAMED TO 2025 MCDONALD'S ALL-AMERICAN GAME ROSTER

Kaelyn Carroll, UK women’s basketball incoming freshman, has been named to the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game roster. She is one of 24 high school players to make the esteemed list.

The annual McDonald’s All-American Game will take place Tuesday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and will be televised on ESPN2.

Carroll is Kentucky’s ninth incoming freshman in the last 15 seasons to be named McDonald’s All-America, including the following:

Jennifer O'Neill (2010)

Bria Goss (2011)

Janee Thompson (2012)

Makayla Epps (2013)

Linnae Harper (2013)

Alyssa Rice (2014)

Taylor Murray (2015)

Treasure Hunt (2020)

Kaelyn Carroll (2025)

Carroll, a 6-3 wing from Marion, Massachusetts, is ranked the 15th best player in the nation, according to espnW / HoopGurlz. The five-star wing plays for Tabor Academy, an independent preparatory school in the state of Massachusetts, under head coach Will Becker. She also played for the Bay State Jaguars’ 17U Under Armour Association (UAA) team under Laurie Bollin.

Kaelyn Carroll (UK Athletics Photo)

Last season as a junior with the Tabor Academy Seawolves, she helped her team to a 22-6 record and a trip to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council’s Semifinals. She was named to the All-Independent School League First Team after averaging 13.7 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game in 2023-24.

In 15 games with the Bay State Jaguars last summer, she shot 42.5 (65-of-153) percent from the field and 35.8 (29-of-81) percent from the arc for 13.1 points per game, adding 101 rebounds, 23 assists, 20 blocks and 18 steals in 2024.

She recently attended the 2024 Wootten 150 Camp in October, while she also received invites to the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team trials and the 2024 Under Armour Next Elite showcase.

Shane Laflin, who covers girls basketball for ESPN, wrote this about Carroll on Nov. 13:

“Carroll's footwork, handle and ability to get to the rim are a unique combination. She hunts threes and gets them off from relocation or even creating space off the dribble. She can receive the screen or be the screener in the pick and roll game. She has become physical in her takes to the rim and finds ways to finish over defenders or get to the free throw line effectively. She is also a savvy defender and solid passer because she reads the floor well.”