Do the Kentucky Wildcats make sense for Iowa State Basketball star Milan Momcilovic?
The Iowa State Cyclones are coming off an outstanding season on the hardwood, but the roster is expected to look much different heading into next year. After putting together one of the better campaigns in the country and emerging as a major force in the Big 12, Iowa State now faces the challenge of replacing key contributors and adjusting to significant roster turnover.
With departures to graduation, the NBA Draft, and the transfer portal, the Cyclones will enter the new season with a different look on both ends of the floor. That has naturally led to questions surrounding several returning players, including standout forward Milan Momcilovic, whose future continues to draw attention from fans and analysts alike.
Momcilovic has become one of the more intriguing names in college basketball because of his combination of size, shooting ability, and offensive versatility. His skill set would make him a valuable fit for nearly any high-major program, which is why schools such as the Kentucky Wildcats have been mentioned as potential destinations if he were ever to explore other options.
|For Kentucky, adding a player like Momcilovic would provide another proven scorer with experience at the highest level of college basketball. His ability to stretch the floor, create matchup problems, and play within a modern offensive system makes him an ideal fit for the style the Wildcats are trying to build moving forward.
Even so, Iowa State remains in a strong position after its successful season, and retaining players like Momcilovic would be critical as the Cyclones try to remain among the nation’s top programs heading into the upcoming year.
However, one player who also elected to leave was Milan Momcilovic. Coming off the best shooting season in the history of the program, Momcilovic entered the NBA Draft with the option to return to college in the transfer portal. While he could come back to college, it won’t be for Iowa State. Furthermore, as his NBA evaluations cool, one school in particular could make sense for him.
Milan Momcilovic to Kentucky Wildcats Starting to Make More sense.
With the star forward of the Cyclones seemingly not getting great reviews for his chances of being drafted in the first round, going back to college is becoming increasingly more likely.
While a return to Iowa State isn’t going to happen, one spot that seems like a likely destination is the Kentucky Wildcats. Since head coach Mark Pope has taken over, the Wildcats have not been living up to expectations, and there is undoubtedly pressure on him and the program to turn it around.
Adding a player of the caliber of Momcilovic would certainly help with that. The forward was one of the best players in the country to enter the transfer portal and was arguably the best shooter in the country last year. During the 2025-26 campaign, he averaged 16.9 points and shot 48.7 from three-point range.
Considering the volume in which he shot the ball, the percentage from beyond the arc was extremely impressive. However, while he was one of the best shooters in the country, he wasn’t a strong rebounder for his size and wasn’t a great defender either.
With NBA executives seemingly believing that he should go back to college, that will likely end up being the case. The Wildcats will offer him a significant NIL package, and if he isn’t a lock to be a first-round pick, he should return to college and take the money.
