Milan Momcilovic's recruitment took on an entirely different light when the star transfer forward officially returned to college basketball just yesterday. Gone are the "what-ifs" and speculation; Big Blue Nation, welcome to the biggest few days of Kentucky's offseason.
As Mark Pope pursues what would be perhaps his biggest fish yet in Lexington, the noise around Momcilovic's potential commitment to the blue and white has quickly come to a head. The momentum, it seems, is tangible.
On the Eye On College Basketball Podcast, Matt Norlander went as far as to make a for-the-time prediction for Momcilovic. If you weren't already excited, Big Blue Nation, you may want to tune in.
"I think Arizona is a distant, distant third there," said Norlander, breaking down the three-team race between the western Wildcats, Louisville, and Kentucky. "My prediction right now is that Milan Momcilovic will go to Kentucky."
We haven't won this one yet - Kentucky fans know how it feels to be upset in a recruitment more than just about anybody - but the stars are certainly aligning for Pope and his staff to make this happen.
NBA Draft withdrawal decisions! St. John's lands Tounde Yessoufou; Milan Momcilovic is back; Koa Peat is gone; https://t.co/dWRRfpMuW4
— Eye On College Basketball Podcast (@EyeOnCBBPodcast) May 28, 2026
A Fast Commitment Coming
"My understanding is that decision is going to come in, in the next one, two, three days, four days at max," Norlander continued, highlighting the timely pressure that's quickly building around all involved in this recruitment.
"My forecast is that it's Kentucky, but we'll see if Louisville can get in there..."
Louisville, having already spent millions (and millions more) on a perceived starting lineup makes their involvement seem a little more out there, at least to me. But the Cardinals clearly have a deep checkbook for Pat Kelsey's third year, so they can't quite be counted out yet.
And neither can Tommy Lloyd and Arizona, with that bunch coming hot off a Final Four run and looking to repeat their long-term success on the tail-end of another big offseason.
But between Momcilovic's previous positive comments about his fit with Kentucky, as well as Norlander's public prediction as it relates to that move, things seem to be lining up for Mark Pope and his staff to make this one happen. We can't get ahead of ourselves, but the Cats are a clear early favorite.
An early favorite, that is, in a recruitment that is expected to come to a close by the beginning of next week, at the apparent latest. That gives very little time for another team to swoop in and take the reins here. It's time to close this one out, Cats fans.
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