Kentucky Basketball Secures Transfer Commitment from Milan Momcilovic

Mark Pope has successfully secured a vital addition to his roster from the transfer portal, as Milan Momcilovic, formerly of Iowa State, announced his commitment to Kentucky on Instagram Monday. The 6-foot-8 forward had an impressive season, averaging 16.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, while also leading the nation in three-point shooting percentage at 48.7%, making a remarkable 136 shots from beyond the arc.

Ranked as the No. 2 player in the transfer portal by 247Sports, behind only Louisville's Flory Bidunga, Momcilovic emerged as one of the most sought-after players after he withdrew from the NBA draft on May 27. He was the last remaining top-90 free agent available and one of only two uncommitted transfers listed in 247Sports' top 200.

During his time with the Cyclones, Momcilovic earned a spot on the All-Big 12 second team and reached double-digit scoring in 30 out of 37 games, including a standout performance where he scored a career-high 34 points against Cincinnati. Notably, he also tallied 20 points and five rebounds in Iowa State's Round of 32 matchup against Kentucky. Despite participating in the NBA Draft Combine, Momcilovic decided to continue his college career and explore new opportunities after three seasons with the Cyclones.

While in the transfer portal, he was reportedly considering several schools, including Louisville and Arizona, with St. John's and former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino also showing interest before opting for another player. With Kentucky having lost its top five scorers from the previous season due to graduation or transfers, Momcilovic's arrival is expected to bolster their scoring capabilities significantly.

If he can replicate his exceptional three-point shooting skills, Kentucky will likely improve on last season's 34.2% shooting from beyond the arc, which placed them 168th nationally and ninth in the SEC. The situation mirrors Pope's first offseason, where he brought in Koby Brea, who had a standout season at Dayton as one of the top three-point shooters in Division I. This development is likely to enhance the Wildcats' offensive performance in the upcoming season.