Last offseason, Kentucky made significant financial investments but allocated them poorly, building a roster ill-suited to Mark Pope’s system. This time around, Pope has largely missed on the Wildcats’ most coveted recruits.
Kentucky struck out on five-star Tyran Stokes the top-ranked player in the 2026 high school class lost Donnie Freeman to St. John’s, and watched Rob Wright III return to BYU. As a result, the Wildcats’ only remaining chance to land a true star is to bank on the NBA passing on a 6-foot-8 wing who shot 48.7% from three-point range last season.
Milan Momcilovic submitted his name to the transfer portal while preserving his final year of eligibility, though he has since focused on the NBA Draft. Kentucky could be an option if he returns to college, but ESPN’s Jeff Borzello considers that scenario unlikely.
“I think all three, if they’re first-round picks, wherever they are, would like to stay in the draft,” Borzello told Evan Miyakawa, referring to Momcilovic, Allen Graves, and Tounde Yessofou three uncommitted players who remain in both the portal and the draft evaluation process.
Borzello doubts Milan Momcilovic will pull out of the NBA Draft.
Players like Momcilovic who entered the draft while protecting their college eligibility including Kentucky center Malachi Moreno have until May 27 to withdraw and return to school. The NBA Draft Combine began in Chicago on Sunday, May 10, and runs through May 17. During that time, prospects receive feedback from scouts and executives to guide their decisions.
This week could create an opening for Momcilovic to return and potentially join Kentucky, but Borzello remains skeptical.
“The rumor when Momcilovic entered the portal was that Florida had the inside track,” Borzello said. “I don’t think that’s true. I’m not sure it ever was. Florida has pretty much maxed out its roster at this point. And there’s been very little chatter about him since, which only strengthens the idea that he’d rather stay in the draft.”
That spells trouble for Kentucky, which badly needs a difference-maker like Momcilovic and clearly missed having a reliable frontcourt shooter last season. On Monday, the Wildcats added former Washington center Franck Kepnang a move that might also suggest Moreno is expected to remain in the draft, further compounding Kentucky’s problems.
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