With Milan Momcilovic officially returning to college and entertaining the transfer portal last night, Mark Pope and Kentucky's pursuit of a star centerpiece for the coach's third-year roster has shifted complete focus to the star shooter.
Recruiting with millions in leftover NIL funds as a result of Tyran Stokes spurning Kentucky, Pope has the opportunity to make back that miss and finalize a would-be seriously strong roster, too. And it seems that the Wildcats, while not alone, are firmly in the mix here.
In the eyes of 247Sports' Kyle Tucker - a well known name in the blue and white media world - the bid for Momcilovic is "Realistically probably a Kentucky vs. Arizona battle."
Tommy Lloyd vs. Mark Pope doesn't seem alluring for the latter on the surface, given Arizona's Final Four run this past season, but Kentucky may have an advantage over these out-of-state Wildcats: Momcilovic has already touched on his potential fit in Lexington, and it had Cats fans fired up.
Returning to Momcilovic's Comments
Speaking with the Lexington Herald-Leader's Ben Roberts at the NBA Combine prior to his decision, Momcilovic said, “I think Kentucky would be a good fit..." well, does that do it?
Not quite, unfortunately. But these notes from the player himself can't be takent with a grain of salt.
That’s a big-time get for Rick Pitino and also takes St. John’s out of the mix for Momcilovic. Realistically probably a Kentucky vs. Arizona battle. https://t.co/VlnX4ZaoQE
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTuckerCBB) May 28, 2026
“I obviously went against Pope at BYU his first year (in the Big 12), and I loved how his team played," Momcilovic continued. "I think we went 1-1 against them, but they killed us at their place, because they fly the ball up the court and shoot 3s. I really like the way they play."
"...But I think — if I were to choose Kentucky — that would be a good fit for me. I feel like I’d be a great player for him, and he’d be a good coach for me.”
A Good Fit Both Ways
As Kentucky and Arizona battle this one out, with Louisville still technically, if not aggressively, involved, it's worth looking back at Momcilovic's public gauge on his potential move to Lexington.
The forward's 48% metric from long range - as often as we've mentioned that already - has the potential to entirely revive the three-point first offense that Pope became known for at BYU. It'd free up Kentucky's offense as a whole, and Momcilovic would instantly hit the scene as the team's perceived top scorer.
Arizona also has a case to make for his role, especially with star forward Koa Peat staying in the draft, but Coach Pope seems to have a singular claim to the exact sort of system that he runs. What's more, Momcilovic knows it.
Kentucky will have to rely on that tether, as well as a few million dollars, to make this one work and change the trajectory of the offseason entirely.
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