NBA Mock Draft has Malachi Moreno ahead of Jayden Quaintance: What about Milan Momcilovic?
And Otega Oweh hears his name called!
Dec 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jaland Lowe (15) reacts with center Malachi Moreno (24) and forward Jayden Quaintance (21) against the St. John Red Storm in the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images Ready for a curveball?
The latest NBA Mock Draft from Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor not only has Malachi Moreno going in the first round, but even ahead of Jayden Quaintance. Yes, this projection has Moreno going 24th overall to the New York Knicks, while Quaintance goes 29th to the Cleveland Cavaliers, nearly falling out of the first round altogether. This would be both a shocking rise for Moreno and a stunning fall for Quaintance, though perhaps an earned one for the latter after he missed most of this past season due to the longest case of knee swelling ever recorded (we think).
I don’t agree with this projection, but if it turns out that this is how NBA executives view Moreno and Quaintance, you’d think there’s actually a chance Moreno stays in the draft and Quaintance returns to college. The real story here is these recent mock drafts and rankings continue to suggest there’s a very real chance Moreno could hear his name called toward the end of Round 1. Could that be enough to sway him into keeping his name in the draft?
Next week’s NBA Draft Combine in Chicago could go a long way in deciding where Moreno is playing basketball next season. Elsewhere, Iowa State transfer and Kentucky recruiting target Milan Momcilovic went 46th overall to the Phoenix Suns. While Momcilovic reportedly prefers to stay in the draft, if that’s the kind of projection he’s getting from NBA decision-makers, then it’s hard not to see him returning to college and collecting an NIL paycheck that could cross $5 million.