Simply committing to Kentucky was enough to raise Milan Momcilovic's NBA Draft stock

Milan Momcilovic nearly skipped the college level entirely to take a shot at the NBA Draft. Ultimately, his second-round projections are what drove him to commit to Kentucky for another year of development, taking a little extra time to refine his profile. That was the right move, as simply committing to Kentucky appears to be improving his draft stock already.

Chinh Tong, an individual analyst outlining players' scouting reports ahead of this coming season, is suggesting that Momcilovic has worked his way into the first round already. ESPN had Momcilovic at No. 38 in their final mock draft prior to his blue and white decision.

It's still extremely early, but the Big Blue Nation certainly won't be shocked at the notion that coming to Lexington puts a certain spotlight on a player's name. After all, Kentucky's NBA pedigree is like no other school; Momcilovic is one step closer to his goal before even stepping on the floor.

Players coming to Kentucky is a long-term career move

Kentucky (61) stands just ahead of Duke (60) with the most first-round draft picks in NBA history. It's not an argument, at least when it comes to the statistics. No school has had more first-round success than the Wildcats, and Momcilovic is already a benefactor of that history.

Malachi Moreno stands out as another prime example. After one season in Lexington, during a portion of which he didn't even start, Moreno found himself rising in first-round projections. It got so bad that his return to Kentucky wasn't sure until almost the end of the draft cycle.

Both of those guys ultimately returned, or committed, to Lexington for a reason. Momcilovic and Moreno could have each landed on NBA rosters if they'd wanted, and most likely in the draft. Playing in Lexington is a wise career move, especially in the NIL era of college sports.

The NIL era helps Kentucky's recruiting more than it hurts

Kentucky may not be able to survive purely on the name on the front of the jersey anymore, but Rupp Arena specifically still holds an appeal. Not only did Momcilovic's fit make sense in Mark Pope's offense, but the branding opportunities in Kentucky are virtually unmatched.

Momcilovic hopped in a Paul Miller Ford truck the moment he landed in the Bluegrass. It may be hard for fans to stomach players making money from local businesses, but if it means Kentucky lands the best three-point shooter in the nation, can we really complain?

The brand isn't the same as it used to be, but Kentucky remains as much that brand as any other blue blood program. If Coach Pope can get the Cats back to the level of national competition, his recruiting pull may reach a level previously unknown to even Lexington.

For all of Coach Pope's arguable flaws, Kentucky has maintained a modern legacy capable of moving names to the next level in spite of NIL evolutions. Momcilovic is the latest example of that phenomenon, but he certainly won't be the last.

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