Will Milan Momcilovic Stay in the NBA Draft or Return to Iowa State? May 27 Deadline Looms
Milan Momcilovic has a decision to make, and the clock is ticking. The Iowa State forward entered the 2026 NBA Draft and the transfer portal at the same time, keeping all of his options open. He has until May 27 to withdraw from the draft and retain his college eligibility. The next 10 days are going to be the most important of his basketball career so far.
The case for staying in the draft is straightforward. Momcilovic is projected as a second-round pick. He got an invite to the NBA Draft Combine and has been working out for teams. If he can crack the late first round through pre-draft workouts, the financial upside of going pro is significant. First-round picks get guaranteed contracts. Second-rounders do not.
The case for returning to college is also strong. If Momcilovic comes back, he becomes a top-five player in the portal and likely one of the best forwards in college basketball next year. The NIL money is going to be substantial, and another year of development could put him in position for a real first-round selection in 2027. The financial difference between a second-round pick and a college star is now close to zero in some cases.
What complicates the decision is the transfer portal angle. Momcilovic entered the portal and would not be returning to Iowa State if he comes back to college. That means schools like LSU, which is reportedly preparing a lucrative NIL offer for fellow portal-and-draft player Allen Graves, are likely in the mix for Momcilovic too. He could basically choose his school if he wants to come back.
The pre-draft process has been mixed for Momcilovic. He has the size and skill to play at the next level. He is a good shooter, a smart passer for his size, and has the kind of versatility that NBA teams covet. The question marks are around athleticism and defense. NBA scouts wonder if he can guard either forward position at the highest level.
The 2026 draft class is not particularly deep at the forward spots. That is part of why Momcilovic is in the conversation at all. In a deeper draft, he would probably be a clear college returnee. But the lack of top-tier talent in this class means players in his projected range have a real shot to climb up draft boards with strong workouts.
The pressure of the decision is real. Players in this position get pulled in every direction. Family is telling them one thing. College coaches are telling them another. Agents have their own incentives. NBA teams are noncommittal until the last minute. The kid making the decision is 20 years old and is trying to figure out the rest of his life.
The smart move for most players in Momcilovic’s position is to come back to college. The NIL money makes the financial argument less clear-cut than it used to be. Another year of development is almost always good for a player. And the chance to be a top draft pick in 2027 is a real possibility if the right things happen.
But every situation is different, and Momcilovic has to make the call that is right for him. If he is in the late first round in his workouts, going pro now is the right move. If the workouts confirm a second-round projection, coming back to college is probably the better play.
The May 27 deadline is going to be a busy day across college basketball. Multiple players are facing the same decision. Rosters are going to take final shape based on what these guys do. For Iowa State and the schools recruiting Momcilovic, the next 10 days are going to be tense.
Whatever Momcilovic decides, he is going to be playing high-level basketball next year. The only question is where.
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.
