For much of the early offseason, Mark Pope faced relentless scrutiny over his ability to land elite talent until the narrative reversed almost literally overnight. The turning point arrived when five-star sharpshooter and transfer forward Milan Momcilovic made his commitment to Kentucky official. But as it turns out and in the most encouraging way possible Pope wasn’t flying solo in his recruitment of Momcilovic. He had an unexpected ally in Tyler Herro, whose loyalty to the blue and white remains very much intact even at the NBA level.
During a media availability with KSR, Momcilovic opened up about the recruiting pitch he received from the former Wildcat. “Tyler reached out to me… he was calling me, he was obviously telling me ‘Go to Kentucky, go to Kentucky…'” Momcilovic shared. Their connection, however, isn’t entirely rooted in this newfound shared affiliation with Kentucky; it stretches back further. Still, there’s a comforting reassurance in knowing that former players continue to advocate for the Cats from the professional ranks.
Momcilovic had already carved out a reputation well before his collegiate career even began, thanks in large part to his time with Team Herro on the Nike EYBL circuit. That’s where the initial bond was forged, and with Herro’s father having developed a close coaching relationship with Momcilovic’s dad, the gravitational pull toward Big Blue Nation became an almost organic inevitability. Momcilovic, of course, answered the call, and the rest of the story is currently being written in real time. But this particular piece of backstory carries extra weight for Kentucky fans, and for two distinct reasons.
Herro’s Quiet Redemption
The first—and admittedly less weighty reason is that Herro actively advocating for Kentucky on the recruiting trail serves as a reaffirmation of his enduring allegiance to the program. That might seem like an obvious take, but it’s worth remembering that only a few months earlier, the former Wildcat had stirred frustration among fans by picking Arkansas to win it all in a social media post a move that naturally didn’t sit well with the Kentucky faithful.
Now, though, with Herro playing a direct role in helping Mark Pope secure what may still prove to be his most significant acquisition, the Big Blue Nation has reason to feel a bit of pride where Herro is concerned. After all, during his lone season in Lexington, he came within inches of propelling Kentucky to a Final Four. His involvement here brings the story full circle in a satisfying way.
Momcilovic and Herro Share One Major Similarity
The second reason centers on a clear stylistic parallel: both Momcilovic and Herro possess an unmistakable affinity for firing away from beyond the arc. Herro, despite shooting only 35% from three-point range during his collegiate season, delivered multiple memorable perimeter daggers throughout the year shots that Kentucky fans won’t soon forget. The deep triple he knocked down against Houston in the NCAA Tournament, in particular, has earned its place in program lore. That squad was chasing something special, and Herro was instrumental in that pursuit.
And by now, there’s little need to remind anyone of just how lethal Momcilovic is from deep. He led the nation last season by connecting on 48.7% of his three-point attempts, and upon arriving in Lexington, he’ll step into an offensive system designed explicitly to maximize his strengths.
That reality underscores just how pivotal this pickup was for Mark Pope and Kentucky and it makes Herro’s involvement in bringing it to fruition all the more meaningful.
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