Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic says Kentucky is “a good fit” as NBA Draft deadline approaches.
The Kentucky Wildcats might be only one key piece away from completing their 2026–27 roster, and the buzz keeps circling back to one player: Iowa State transfer forward Milan Momcilovic. The 6-foot-8 marksman is currently exploring his NBA Draft options while also keeping the door open for a return to college basketball. Should he pull out of the draft, Kentucky is said to be a top candidate for his services.
Last season, Momcilovic led the nation in both three-point percentage (48.7%) and total made threes (136). He openly acknowledged that in the NIL era, the financial incentives in college are too significant to overlook. “I could get more money in college that’s the bottom line than a contract in the NBA right now,” he told Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
The Wisconsin native added that only a handful of schools are still realistic options, given limitations in roster openings and NIL funds. “There’s not a lot of schools that still have a lot of money and a lot of roster spots left,” Momcilovic said. “So it’s not like I’m choosing between 15 schools. It’s going to be three or four.” Kentucky, Louisville, and St. John’s are believed to be firmly in that mix.
Though head coach Mark Pope hasn’t directly spoken with Momcilovic, Kentucky’s staff has reportedly kept lines of communication open through his representatives. Momcilovic entered the transfer portal with a “do not contact” tag while focusing mainly on the NBA Combine process. Still, he made clear that Kentucky’s playing style appeals to him. “I think Kentucky would be a good fit,” he said. “I obviously went against Pope at BYU his first year (in the Big 12), and I loved how his team played.”
Kentucky is also waiting on a final NBA Draft decision from Malachi Moreno, who has seen his stock rise as a possible first-round pick after strong pre-draft workouts. If Moreno returns and Kentucky adds Momcilovic, the Wildcats could go from a team with many unanswered questions to a serious national title contender in Pope’s third season in Lexington.
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