Mark Pope’s third Kentucky basketball team may not have an obvious first-round NBA Draft selection right now, but Tuesday night’s Pro Day at Rupp Arena offered plenty of reasons for Big Blue Nation to pay attention.
With NBA scouts heavily represented around the court, Kentucky had an opportunity to provide an early glimpse of what this new-look Wildcats team could become during the 2026-27 season.
It was not a finished product.
There were impressive flashes, encouraging shooting displays and plenty of intriguing individual talent. There were also mistakes, inconsistencies and questions that Mark Pope still has to answer before Kentucky’s season gets serious.
But perhaps that is exactly what made Pro Day so interesting.
The Wildcats showed signs of a team that could play with considerable offensive freedom, particularly from beyond the 3-point line. At the same time, Kentucky’s power-forward situation remains unsettled, while one of the team’s newcomers, Alex Wilkins, continued to attract attention with his combination of shooting ability, creativity and potential.
For Pope, the challenge now is turning those flashes into a consistent identity.
Kentucky Looks Ready to Let It Fly
One of the clearest messages from Pro Day was that Kentucky intends to shoot.
A lot.
Since returning to his alma mater, Pope has repeatedly emphasized the importance of 3-point shooting to his offensive philosophy. Yet Kentucky has not consistently reached the volume from deep that Pope would ideally like.
During the 2024-25 season, his first at Kentucky, the Wildcats attempted 25.3 3-pointers per game.
That number dropped to 23.9 last season.
This year’s roster, however, appears to have the personnel to change that.
Milan Momcilovic immediately stood out as one of the biggest reasons for optimism.
The 6-foot-9 forward transferred to Kentucky after establishing himself as one of the nation’s most dangerous long-range shooters at Iowa State. At Pro Day, he provided another reminder of why his shooting could become such an important part of Pope’s offense.
One of the most impressive moments came when Momcilovic received a pass from Zoom Diallo after Diallo drove toward the basket. Instead of bringing the ball down and setting himself, Momcilovic kept it high and quickly fired over the closeout.
The shot went down.
That type of quick-release shooting is exactly what can make a spacing-heavy offense dangerous.
Momcilovic also hit a deep fadeaway 3-pointer to beat the buzzer during a scrimmage session. He missed some easier attempts, but his confidence never appeared to disappear.
And Kentucky has more than one player willing to shoot from deep.
Alex Wilkins and freshman Mason Williams both showed a willingness to attempt 3-pointers from well beyond the line, including catch-and-shoot opportunities and pull-ups in transition.
Pope has already made his expectations clear.
“We think that our shooting is gonna be elite,” he said recently. “We think that we shoot it really, really well, and we have a depth of shooters that’s important for us.”
That depth could become one of Kentucky’s biggest strengths.
Ousmane N’Diaye and Justin McBride also showed no hesitation about stepping outside and shooting from long range.
The willingness to shoot is one thing.
Doing it efficiently against high-level competition is another.
That will be one of the biggest questions facing Kentucky once the games begin to matter.
The Power-Forward Position Remains a Question
While the shooting was encouraging, Pro Day also highlighted an area where Kentucky still has some uncertainty.
The power-forward position remains a work in progress.
Pope clearly recognized the need for additional frontcourt help during the offseason. Kentucky pursued Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler and Missouri forward Mark Mitchell after temporary court rulings gave both players another opportunity to play college basketball.
Kohler ultimately chose BYU.
Mitchell committed to Kentucky before the SEC’s intraconference transfer situation complicated the move. He eventually returned to Missouri, and his eligibility situation has continued to develop.
That left Kentucky searching for answers at the four spot.
Based on what was seen at Pro Day, the position is still far from completely settled.
N’Diaye displayed some of the tantalizing qualities that have followed him throughout his international career.
His shooting range is particularly intriguing.
At 6-foot-9, having a forward who can stretch the floor and confidently attempt shots from beyond the arc gives Pope another way to create space for his guards and center.
However, his shooting came with mixed results during the event.
Justin McBride provided a different dimension.
The 6-foot-8 transfer from James Madison brings size and physicality to the lineup. He also recently won the dunk contest at Big Blue Madness, demonstrating the athleticism that Kentucky hopes will translate into meaningful production.
But neither N’Diaye nor McBride clearly separated himself during Pro Day.
That means the battle for the starting power-forward spot could remain one of the most interesting storylines throughout the preseason.
Diallo, Wilkins, Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno appear to have strong cases for starting roles, but the fifth spot remains less certain.
Interestingly, Kentucky did not put those four players together on the same five-man unit during the six-minute scrimmage sessions.
That makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about Pope’s preferred starting lineup.
It also leaves Big Blue Nation with another reason to watch closely as the exhibition games approach.
Alex Wilkins Could Be One of Kentucky’s Biggest Stories
If there was one player who continued to generate excitement during Kentucky’s preseason events, it was Alex Wilkins.
The 6-foot-6 guard has been one of the most intriguing players on the roster since arriving from Furman.
At Big Blue Madness, Wilkins won the 3-point contest comfortably.
At Pro Day, his shooting continued to attract attention during drills.
The situation became more difficult once defenders were involved.
That is normal.
Shooting without defensive pressure is very different from creating shots against defenders who are closing hard, denying passing lanes and forcing players to make decisions under pressure.
Still, Wilkins demonstrated something Kentucky desperately needs: offensive creativity.
He has a shifty style that allows him to change speeds and directions while attacking the basket. His movements are fluid, and he appears comfortable operating both with and without the ball.
Comparisons to NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are obviously premature, but there are elements of Wilkins’ game that make the comparison understandable.
He has some of that unusual ability to move at different speeds and keep defenders uncomfortable.
However, Kentucky will need to be patient.
Wilkins is making a significant jump from Furman to Kentucky.
The competition will be tougher.
The defensive pressure will be more intense.
And his ballhandling must improve.
He averaged 3.8 turnovers per game last season, something that will have to be addressed if Pope intends to give him significant responsibility with the ball.
But the upside is difficult to ignore.
Pope has already indicated that Wilkins will have an important role.
“He’ll play a lot of point for us. He’ll be able to play a lot of combo guard,” Pope said.
That versatility could prove extremely valuable.
Pope also described Kentucky’s current approach as a two-lead-guard system, something he noted is very similar to what is seen in the NBA.
That could allow Wilkins to play alongside another ballhandler rather than forcing him to carry the entire offensive burden.
Malachi Moreno and Milan Momcilovic Lead Kentucky’s Draft Hopes
While Kentucky does not currently have a clear-cut first-round NBA Draft prospect, two players will likely receive significant attention from scouts throughout the season.
They are Moreno and Momcilovic.
Both were viewed as second-round prospects in early 2027 draft rankings.
That does not mean either player is destined for the second round.
A strong college season can dramatically change a player’s draft stock.
For Moreno, development on both ends of the floor will be critical.
For Momcilovic, the opportunity is even clearer.
If he can consistently knock down difficult 3-pointers while showing that he can defend, rebound and contribute in other areas, his draft stock could rise considerably.
Kentucky’s offensive system should give him plenty of opportunities to showcase those skills.
What Comes Next for Mark Pope’s Wildcats?
Pro Day was never going to answer every question.
Kentucky still has weeks of practice and preseason competition ahead before the games begin to count.
The Wildcats will open their exhibition schedule against Little Rock on Oct. 16 before beginning the regular season against Manhattan on Nov. 3.
Those games should provide a much clearer picture of Pope’s plans.
For now, though, Pro Day offered an encouraging first look.
Kentucky appears to have shooting.
It has size.
It has athleticism.
It has multiple players capable of handling the ball.
And perhaps most importantly, it has several players with room to improve dramatically during the season.
The power-forward position remains unsettled, and Kentucky will have to prove that its shooting can translate when opponents begin aggressively defending the 3-point line.
But there was enough talent on display at Rupp Arena to generate genuine optimism.
The Wildcats may not have entered the preseason with a guaranteed NBA lottery pick.
They may not even have a guaranteed first-round selection.
What they do have is something potentially just as important at this stage: a roster with multiple paths to improvement.
Momcilovic can stretch defenses.
Moreno can anchor the interior.
Diallo can create.
Wilkins can provide another dynamic perimeter option.
And Pope now has to figure out how all those pieces fit together.
That is the real story coming out of Pro Day.
Kentucky did not unveil a finished team Tuesday night.
Instead, the Wildcats provided a glimpse of what they could become.
And if the shooting translates, the frontcourt questions are answered and Wilkins develops as quickly as his talent suggests, Pope’s third Kentucky team could look very different once March arrives.
