Kentucky men’s basketball saw two of its players recognized for their performance this season as Otega Oweh and Malachi Moreno earned All-Southeastern Conference honors on Monday. Oweh was named to the All-SEC Second Team, while Moreno was selected to the All-Freshman Team, as determined by the league’s coaches, according to UK Athletics.
For Oweh, this marks his second consecutive selection to the All-SEC Second Team, solidifying his status as a key player for the Wildcats. Moreno’s recognition is particularly notable as he becomes the first All-Freshman Team honoree at Kentucky under head coach Mark Pope. The awards come as Kentucky prepares for the SEC Tournament, beginning Wednesday against LSU.
Oweh has enjoyed a standout senior season, achieving career-best averages of 18.2 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, alongside 4.5 rebounds. His consistent scoring has been a hallmark of his performance, reaching double figures in 30 of 31 regular-season games, with 16 games exceeding 20 points. During SEC play, Oweh elevated his game further, averaging 21.1 points and leading the conference with 14 games scoring 20 or more points, as reported by On3.
Throughout his two-year career at Kentucky, Oweh has posted 22 games with 20 or more points against SEC opponents, the most by a Wildcat since at least the 1996-97 season. He joins Jodie Meeks, Jamal Murray, Antonio Reeves, and Malik Monk as one of only five Wildcats since 1996-97 to average 21.0 points per game in SEC action. Oweh has accumulated 1,148 total points, ranking third among transfers in program history and fourth overall in points scored during a player’s first two years at Kentucky.
Moreno’s Impact as a Freshman
Moreno has made an immediate impact for the Wildcats, starting 25 of 31 games and leading the team in both rebounding (6.6 per game) and blocked shots (1.6 per game). The freshman center is averaging 8.3 points, 1.8 assists, and shooting a team-best 58.7 percent from the field. He has recorded three double-doubles this season and ranks seventh among SEC freshmen in scoring, second in rebounds, and first in blocks, according to Kentucky Today. The Wildcats boast a 10-1 record when Moreno scores in double figures.
A memorable moment for Moreno this season was his game-winning buzzer-beater against LSU, completing an 18-point comeback for Kentucky. He was also recognized for his contributions off the court, being selected to the SEC Community Service Team last week.
Kentucky will begin its SEC Tournament run on Wednesday against LSU at 12:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Fans can follow the team on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and discover the latest updates at UKathletics.com.
The success of both Oweh and Moreno provides a bright spot for a Kentucky team navigating a challenging season. As the Wildcats head into the SEC Tournament, their individual accolades offer a glimpse of the program’s potential moving forward.
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