(WKYT) – After his performances this past week against South Carolina and Vanderbilt, Kentucky freshman center Malachi Moreno earned his first Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week award.
Moreno averaged 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 66.7% from the field and 87.5% from the free-throw line.
The Wildcats improved to 10-1 this season when Moreno reaches double-figure scoring with his 11 points in the win over the Commodores.
The Georgetown, Ky. native also contributed team highs in rebounds (6) and assists (5) in the fifth win over an AP Top 25 squad this season. He joined Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the only UK freshmen to have at least 11 points, six boards and five assists in multiple SEC games in their careers.
Against South Carolina, Moreno had eight points and a career-high-tying 11 rebounds. He became the first UK freshman to have at least eight points, 11 boards, two blocks and a steal in a true SEC road game since Karl-Anthony Towns at LSU on Feb. 10, 2015.
Moreno’s presence on the boards helped the Cats to a rebounding advantage of plus-20, the highest in the Pope era.
Kentucky return to action on Tuesday at Texas A&M. The game is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.