Kentucky Lands Milan Momcilovic in Massive Portal Win: A Sharpshooter for Mark Pope’s Wildcats
Mark Pope just landed one of the best shooters in the country. Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic has committed to Kentucky, giving the Wildcats a forward who shot 48.7 percent from three last season while leading the nation.
Momcilovic averaged 16.9 points per game for Iowa State as a junior. He is a 6-foot-8 forward who can play either spot up the floor. The shooting is the calling card. The IQ and feel for the game are what make him a perfect fit in Pope’s system.
What He Brings to Lexington
Kentucky’s roster has been built around versatile, skilled wings and forwards since Pope took over. Momcilovic checks every box. He stretches the floor. He moves without the ball. He makes the right read on a closeout. He plays both forward positions defensively.
For a program that has historically chased the highest-rated freshmen in the country, Pope’s portal moves have been a refreshing change. Kentucky is now built more like a smart NBA team than the old one-and-done factory. Pope wants experienced shooters, savvy passers, and players who can execute his system on night one. Momcilovic is the perfect example.
The Wildcats’ offense should be one of the most efficient in the country with Momcilovic in the rotation. Spacing fixes a lot of problems. He provides it at an elite level.
Why He Left Iowa State
The Cyclones had a strong season under TJ Otzelberger but lost a chunk of their roster to graduation and the portal. Momcilovic likely saw his ceiling at Iowa State and a better opportunity for development, exposure, and NBA looks at a national-brand program like Kentucky.
The NIL math also matters. Kentucky is one of the richest collectives in the country. Iowa State, while well-resourced, cannot match the kind of money the Wildcats put together. Momcilovic earned this. His shooting numbers and his game are the kind of profile that translates directly to NBA second round draft attention if he keeps producing.
The Kentucky Roster Picture
Pope has now added multiple high-impact pieces from the portal in addition to a solid freshman class. The Wildcats are going to enter next season as a clear top-10 team, possibly higher depending on how the rest of the roster shapes up.
The competition for minutes at the forward spots is going to be fierce. Kentucky has stacked depth at almost every position. Momcilovic should immediately start because of his shooting, but he is going to be pushed by other talented forwards on the roster.
That competition is good. It is the SEC. The Wildcats need to be able to throw fresh bodies at Auburn, Tennessee, and Florida every night in conference play. Depth matters more in basketball than fans usually give it credit for.
The Bigger Picture for Pope
This is Pope’s second offseason at Kentucky. He inherited a difficult situation. He has now built a team that should compete for the SEC title and at least make the Sweet 16 in March.
The fan base wanted more last season. They got an exciting style and a competitive team, but the bar in Lexington is a Final Four every year. Momcilovic moves that goal closer to reality.
The Wildcats are real again. Kentucky basketball is back to being one of the biggest stories in the sport. Momcilovic is a key piece in why.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
